Coaching an athlete
Practice talking to an athlete whose nerves take over in games
A free motivational interviewing role-play. You talk with Maya Torres, played by an AI that stays in character, then get feedback on the moves you made.
Free for learners · Runs in your browser
How Maya opens
“Hey Coach. Is this about Saturday? I know I wasn't great.”
Your brief
You coach Maya, a sophomore forward who's one of the best players on your team in practice. In games she's been a different player for most of the season: hesitant on the ball, passing up open shots, and fading in big moments. You moved her to the bench for the last game. You've asked her to stay after practice to talk.
Your goalUnderstand what games feel like for Maya and draw out her own reasons and ideas for playing with more confidence, without fixing it for her.
What tends to shut them down
Telling her to just relax or have more confidence
Jumping to fixes (visualization, a routine) before understanding
Talking about playing time, starting spots, or the scholarship as leverage
Comparing her with teammates
Closed questions that she can answer with "I'll focus more"
Accepting "it's fine" and moving on
Framing it as a toughness or mental-strength problem
What tends to open them up
Reflecting the pressure or worry under her upbeat answers
Normalizing nerves without dismissing them
Affirming specific things she does well in practice
Open questions about what games feel like compared with practice
Reflecting how much she cares about the team and the game
Asking what she thinks would help, before offering anything
Emphasizing that what she tries next is her call
Maya also has a backstory you won't see here. In the role-play, you draw it out.
Read first
Guides on the skills this role-play asks for.
- MI guide · 6 minHow to practice motivational interviewing: exercisesMI training exercises that build skill: deliberate practice, peer role-plays, self-coding with MITI ideas, and where AI role-play helps or doesn't.
- MI guide · 7 minWhat is motivational interviewing? A practical guideMotivational interviewing is a way of talking about change that draws out a person's own reasons. Learn its spirit, the four processes, and where it fits.
- MI guide · 6 minOARS in motivational interviewing, with examplesOARS stands for open questions, affirmations, reflections and summaries. See each MI skill in real clinic and workplace dialogue, plus the mistakes to avoid.
Talk with Maya yourself
The role-play opens in your browser. Type your replies or say them out loud, and finish with feedback on the moves you made.
Free for learners · Runs in your browser
Leading a training? Book a 30-minute call (opens in a new tab)
Ready when you are.
