ASCENT by The Knowing Self
The Inner Game of Sport
Helping athletes, coaches and families build resilient minds, stronger relationships and cultures that thrive under pressure.
PURPOSE: The Inner Game Matters
Sport shapes identity, confidence and belonging, but many young athletes are carrying pressure silently:
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fear of failure
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identity tied to performance
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emotional shutdown or withdrawal
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breakdowns in communication
Strong teams aren’t built through fear, ego or perfection.
They’re built through trust, connection and understanding.
Behaviour always has a story underneath it.
When we understand the story, we change the response.
The best teams don’t avoid conflict.
They know how to repair after it.
ASCENT supports athletes, coaches and families to build emotionally intelligent sporting environments where communication, self-awareness and leadership are valued as highly as performance.
The Work We Do
Supporting the Inner Game of Sport
Helping athletes, coaches and families build resilient minds, stronger relationships and cultures that thrive under pressure.
Team Culture Sessions
Building connection, communication and emotional awareness within teams.
Athlete Mindset Programs
Supporting confidence without tying identity to performance, and helping athletes stay connected, aware and self-led under pressure.
Coach and Parent Conversations
Helping adults understand the emotional world behind performance and behaviour.
Leadership Workshops
Developing emotionally intelligent leaders on and off the field.
What Makes ASCENT different?
We don’t coach athletes to push through emotion. We help them understand it.
We don’t build teams through control or fear. We build them through trust and accountability.
We don’t separate performance from wellbeing. They shape each other.
How We Work Together
Every ASCENT session is designed to feel engaging, practical and emotionally safe, creating space for honest conversations, stronger relationships and real reflection.
Team Sessions
Interactive sessions designed to strengthen communication, connection and culture within teams. Athletes are guided through reflective conversations, practical activities and emotionally intelligent leadership concepts that support both performance and belonging.
Athlete Conversations
Supporting young athletes to better understand pressure, confidence, identity and emotional resilience. Sessions create space for self-awareness, perspective and personal leadership both on and off the field.
Coach and Parent Workshops
Helping adults better understand the emotional world behind behaviour, motivation and performance. These sessions support emotionally intelligent leadership, healthier communication and stronger relationships with young athletes.
Session Information
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Sessions are typically 60–90 minutes
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Workshops can be tailored for teams, athletes, coaches, parents and leadership groups
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Available for schools, sporting clubs and community organisations
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In-person sessions available across Victoria, with online options available on request
Enquiry-based pricing depending on group size and session requirements.
The ASCENT Framework
Supporting the Inner Game of Sport
A- Awareness: Understanding yourself under pressure
S- Self Leadership: Owning your mindset, reactions and influence
C- Connection: Building trust, communication and team culture
E- Emotional Agility: Responding instead of reacting
N- Nervous System Safety: Calm recovery and clarity under pressure
T- Teamship: Leading beyond yourself
Why This Work Matters
Sport can build confidence, belonging and growth, but it can also create environments where fear of failure, emotional shutdown and performance pressure go unspoken.
When identity becomes tied to performance, athletes stop taking risks.
When communication breaks down, teams lose trust.
When emotions aren’t understood, behaviour gets misread.
ASCENT focuses on the human side of performance.
We help athletes and teams build:
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emotional safety, so people can speak up and stay engaged
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awareness of what’s happening underneath behaviour
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the ability to repair after mistakes, conflict and setbacks
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nervous system regulation, so pressure doesn’t overwhelm performance
For example:
An athlete who used to shut down after mistakes learning how to reset and re-engage.
A team shifting from blame to accountability after a loss.
Performance doesn’t improve when people feel judged.
It improves when they feel safe enough to respond, adapt and lead.
About Amanda
Amanda Stokes is the founder of The Knowing Self, supporting schools, families and teams through emotional intelligence, communication and culture-building work.
With a background in education, leadership development and adolescent wellbeing, Amanda brings a deeply human approach to communication, resilience and culture-building.
ASCENT was created to bring this work into the world of sport, helping athletes, coaches and parents build stronger relationships, healthier environments and more emotionally intelligent teams.
What We Believe
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Strong cultures are built through connection, not fear.
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Performance improves when people feel psychologically safe.
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Behaviour always has a story underneath it.
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The best teams know how to repair after conflict.
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Leadership is how we influence the environment around us.
Because the inner game shapes everything.