Today we’d like to introduce you to Will Martel.
Hi Will, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I always start with my mom and dad. My dad was a teacher and soccer coach at SLUH; as a kid, I always went to his games and always imagined doing what he did. He didn’t just coach soccer – he always wanted to help the players grow as people. Coaching soccer was always going to be in my future for that reason. But I also credit my mom who I share my personality with. I think I have her humor and ability to connect with people; she taught me the importance of helping others and being selfless. I know a lot of people say that about their parents but she really ingrained that into me and my brothers. When you combine my mom and dad’s influence, it’s no surprise that I found myself coaching and, more specially, working as a Mental Performance Coach (MPC).
I started coaching soccer at the age of 17. I never saw my age as a barrier, I just wanted to start as soon as possible. My dad let me be an assistant for the freshmen team at SLUH and then from there is just became a sprint. I moved to Kansas City for college (I went to Rockhurst University) and I started coaching youth clinics for inner-city kids. Meanwhile, I started getting my U.S. Soccer coaching licenses and slowly built my resume. By the time I graduated college, I was coaching in schools, clubs, and anything else I could find.
While I started to establish myself in Kansas City, I really felt like something was missing. I was working for Sporting Kansas City (KC’s MLS team) at the time; I did a lot of coaching for their youth department and also worked on their business side. I wanted to be on the field more. I felt like I was starting to gravitate more towards a desk which concerned me. Coaching as a profession is difficult to break, so after reflection I decided to pursue my M.S. in Sport Psychology. I already had a psychology degree, so it felt natural to combine that with my coaching experience. I felt like this would force me to stay on the field and be more front-facing with the people I wanted to help.
In October of 2022, I moved back to St. Louis to be closer to my family and picked up coaching jobs that I still have now. I currently coach at Incarnate Word Academy which has been an incredible experience. I also coach in the fall high school season at Whitfield; coaching high school boys again reminds of my days at SLUH watching my dad. Outside of that, I work at Missouri Youth Soccer Association as a full-time employee. I oversee their leagues and programs as well as serve as a coordinator and scout for the Missouri Olympic Development Program. I mentioned earlier that I started coaching at 17, and this is why. I am 26 now and have landed on some incredible coaching opportunities. I couldn’t be happier.
Meanwhile, I have completed my masters (this past July). This launched my new business – Will Martel Coaching. This business is designed to help youth athletes engage in the mental side of soccer (or any sport). I mostly work with athletes 1-on-1, but also do group presentations and coach consulting. This, on top of my other jobs, keeps me very busy but incredibly engaged in what I believe is my life calling.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Absolutely not. But I say that in a good way. I’ve always subscribed to the idea that being uncomfortable is good for growth. I mentioned earlier that I started coaching at the age of 17. Some of the things I said and did make me cringe, but I have no regrets. I had a great coaching mentor who told me that the best way to learn how to coach is “to say something super dumb in front of kids.” I laugh about that now, but he made a good point. His lesson was that to be a good coach, I have to put myself in situations to learn and receive feedback. Without that, I couldn’t get better.
I’ve carried this with me into my own business. I’ve never created a logo, or a website, or an intake form – I’ve never hired people to manage my marketing plan or take pictures of me in action – I’ve never asked people to write testimonials for me. I got my first client just about a year ago and I completely messed it up. It’s like I forgot everything I learned in school. I felt like an imposter; I had all this education and licensure and still couldn’t do my job. But if that didn’t happen, I wouldn’t have studied more. I wouldn’t have sought out additional mentors in the field. I wouldn’t have reflected on my process when meeting a new client. I wouldn’t have gotten better, in other words. My confidence now is better for it, and so are my clients!
I’m very proud of what I do, but it does take sacrifice. I work about 10 hours a day, which usually includes weekends as well. I’ve missed family gatherings, time with friends, and have had to adjust my personal routine so many times. But I have no regrets. I’ve been burnt out before and where I’m out now doesn’t feel like it. I really feel like I’m making a difference and count myself extremely lucky to work in a sport I love with people who need it.
As you know, we’re big fans of Will Martel Coaching. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
My business name says it all! I remember overthinking about the name of my business and one of my professors told me to just name it after myself. That way, people would know exactly what I do. I have to say, it has a nice ring to it…
My business specializes in sports psychology consulting. Essentially, sports psychology emphasizes the use of the brain in sports – think of confidence, resilience, motivation, but also processes like goal-setting, how to focus, motor control, etc. I always say that the mental side of sports is the glue. While working on my masters, I noticed that a lot of the research focused on professional and collegiate athletes. I thought to myself: “If we want athletes to form healthy habits, shouldn’t we be implementing mindset training at a younger age?” Thus, Will Martel Coaching was born. I already have a presence in youth soccer, so I used my education to become a Mental Performance Coach (MPC) for youth athletes.
I offer a myriad of services. I mostly work 1-on-1 with youth athletes; what they need help with varies per athlete. Mostly, it’s teaching them about self-confidence and goal-setting. I also do group presentations for youth teams; I’ve presented topics such as goal-setting, team cohesion, managing injuries, and much more. Outside of that, my other services are mostly consulting. I consult with coaches, club directors, and other youth sports personnel. I am not a therapist like other psychologists
What sets me apart from other businesses and coaches in this field is that I offer professional services (due to my qualified background) at a relatively low cost. I have the educational background, as well as official coaching licenses in the U.S. and Germany. I won’t stop there – there are more certifications and licenses to get. But I also recognize that a lot of youth athletes and their families are paying an exorbitant amount to play. It’s hard for me to justify high price points (which in my field can be as high as $175/hour); my inspiration is getting the word out to as many youth athletes as possible. I’m lucky to have other sources of income, so I find a balance in my pricing – I know my services are worth something, but I won’t let the price get in the way of providing my services. I work with each family and club to decide a financial plan that works for them.
I need support in the way of promoting and spreading the word. I have a new Instagram that I use to offer simple tips and tricks related to sports psychology. If anyone wanted to help get the word out, a simple way is to follow me and start sharing that content. I am not a huge social media guy, so please be patient with my iPhone-recorded videos and bad jokes.
Can you talk to us a bit about the role of luck?
I don’t really believe in luck. For example, if you’re walking home from the store and it starts raining right as you walk outside, most people would say that’s unlucky. But my question is this: did the person prepare for that? Did they look at the weather? Did they bring an umbrella just in case? I think sometimes people mistake unlucky with being unprepared.
Of course, this is just my opinion. I don’t see the world as full of luck or bad luck, just things you can control or can’t control. I can’t control the weather, but I can control how I prepare for it. I’ve used the philosophy in my life and in business. I can’t control if people think I’m too young to coach a certain level, but I can control the knowledge I have and how hard I work to show them. This is just my approach – everyone has a different recipe for how they obtain success.
I teach this to the athletes I work with as well. I always tell them: you all deserve to be confident, but you have to earn it. Obviously, they need the support as well. But with the right support, athletes have to focus on what they can control to succeed (to be confident). That’s really what mindset is about. If an athlete doesn’t train or practice (aka prepare), can they expect to be a confident player during a game? Again, maybe just my opinion, but I would say no.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.wmcoaching10.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wmcoaching10/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/will-martel-mpc-0b0262171/
