“Leading up to the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games, I knew it would be a different experience for me for many reasons. One of my biggest concerns was that this could be my last time representing the United States. How did I want the experience to look and feel? I had this ideal scenario in my mind, but what if it wasn’t going to work out like that? How was I going to respond? Secondly, I was concerned about how my body would show up physically. I knew I had done my best to put myself in the best place possible, but sometimes when you are in the arena, you don’t really know. Lastly, we as a team put in so much work off the court around role clarity, accountability, and striving for something that has never been done before in the history of USA Volleyball. With all these emotions and uncertainties, I wanted to make sure I had addressed everything before we left.

I had met Dr. Widman on several occasions through my association with Nebraska Volleyball and guest appearances on the Max Out Mindset podcast. We visited several times leading up to the Olympic Games. I knew how important it was to talk about those things, but I never realized how impactful it was until I took some time to reflect after the Games.

I have always been a player who enjoys speaking on high performance and the mental side of the game, but being able to talk about fears and what I wanted my experience to look like at these Olympic Games really helped me stay present, enjoy the process, and cope with all of it beforehand. When those fears and uncertainties came up there, I was fully prepared to see those feelings, acknowledge them, and let them pass.

I am so grateful for Doc’s willingness to give me his time and tools to help me feel my best. I was able to acknowledge and realize that my concerns and fears are normal. It’s how you respond and how you do the work that matters.”

Jordan Larson, Three-time Olympic medal winner, 2020 Olympic gold medalist, 2014 world champion

Dr. Widman Services

Click below for more information

Elite Mindset Training for Teams and Coaches with Dr. Widman

You will learn the fundamentals of maxing out your mind and maxing out your team. 

Option #1: One 90-minute ZOOM call on a topic of your choice on elite mindset training for your team or coaching staff. $1000.00

Option #2: Book/Workbook combo pack-up to 25 coaches/athletes. One 90-minute ZOOM call on a topic of choice with the team. $1500.00

Option #3: Three 90-minute ZOOM calls. Supercharge your team or coaching staff with three elite mindset and team topics: Preparing Your Mind and Team For Battle, Max Out Your Mind, and Max Out Your Team. $2000.00

Option #4: Three 90-minute ZOOM calls. Supercharge your team or coaching staff with three elite mindset and team topics: Preparing Your Mind and Team For Battle, Max Out Your Mind, and Max Out Your Team. 30-minute monthly check-ins during the season and post-season. $2500.00

Option #5: Book/Workbook combo pack-up to 25 coaches/athletes. Three 90-minute ZOOM calls with the three elite mindset and team topics: Preparing Your Mind and Team For Battle, Max Out Your Mind, and Max Out Your Team. $2500.00

Option #6: Book/Workbook combo pack-up to 25 coaches/athletes. Three 90-minute ZOOM calls with the three elite mindset and team topics: Preparing Your Mind and Team For Battle, Max Out Your Mind, and Max Out Your Team. 30-minute monthly check-ins during the season and post-season. $3000.00

Click below to purchase a plan.

“I met Dr. Widman in 2013 when I was a member of the Volleyball team for the University of Nebraska - Lincoln. I wish I had met him sooner. He worked with the team and staff on effective communication, vulnerability, and how to handle high-pressure situations which ultimately helped lead our program to two National Championships during my career. He showed me that mindset training is a skill in the same way that serving a volleyball is a skill, and that you need to practice both to be a great athlete and teammate. Having someone like Dr. Widman when I was playing sports at the high school and club level would have only made sports and life that much easier. Mindset training is something that everyone can (and should) practice and I am confident that Dr. Widman can change your life the same way he did with me.”
Kelly Hunter, two-time national champion, All-American, assistant volleyball coach, University of Nebraska

“Dr. Widman has worked with the Creighton program since the Spring of 2012. We asked Dr. Widman to work with our team on culture and chemistry, which I felt was holding us back in reaching our goals. Since that time, our program has reached new heights, with a group of young women who are tough and resilient, and have learned to trust and love each other. I firmly believe that Dr. Widman has played a large role in our ninth straight conference championships, eleventh straight NCAA appearances, our Sweet 16 in 2015, and our Elite Eight run in 2016. It isn’t magic, but instead he works on healthy communication, respect, trust, and staying positive. Our players are mentally tough in stressful situations—if that be end - game or a tough environment—because of Dr. Widman.” - Kirsten Bernthal Booth, head volleyball coach, Creighton University

Taryn Kloth and Kristin Nuss 2022 AVP Beach Team of the Year.

“I've been working with Dr. Widman since 2015 when I was a freshman on the Creighton University volleyball team. Fast forward to 2022, I am still working with him and my beach volleyball teammate to pursue a career on the International and domestic beach volleyball tours. This journey has been anything but smooth, but Dr. Widman has been there through the mental challenges that we have faced and helped us to hurdle the blockades. It's scary to let someone in your thoughts and be vulnerable, and it's scary to share them with a teammate or friend, but pushing through that made a huge difference with us and our communication.” -Taryn Kloth

“Over the past couple of years, especially this past year, I have come to realize how important the mental side of being an athlete is, and I have Dr. Larry Widman to thank for that. He has played a tremendous role in helping Taryn and I elevate our game in ways that does not involve any volleyball strategy. He has allowed us to have open and honest conversations about the rough parts of being a professional beach volleyball player and has provided ways to help us navigate through those times. It is an ongoing process, but I am sure glad that we have Dr.Widman as a part of our team.” -Kristen Nuss

“I started working with Dr. Widman when I was only 13 years old. I had the skills to become an Elite gymnast, but I could never max out when it mattered the most. Dr. Widman started training me to have an elite mindset and guided me with mental skill strategies to use during high-stress situations all while staying true to who I was. As I grew in my mindset, no matter the outcome, I knew he always believed in me. I went from not being able to qualify for Elite to now being a member of the USA Gymnastics National Team. I’m excited to see what I can accomplish as I continue my mindset training with Dr. Widman as my coach.” - Lexi Zeiss 2 x U.S. National Team Member, USA Gymnastics Worlds Team – 2022, Pan American Championships All Around Silver Medalist - 2022

“In 2022, I was playing a game that I had been playing almost my entire life but never on this kind of stage. Initially, I only saw it as fun, and I loved the environment, but on this kind of stage the pressure and expectations hit an all-time high. This led to me putting handcuffs on my ability to play free. In 2023 I hit rock bottom striving for perfection, leading to anxiety and depression. Unfortunately, perfection never happens in the game of softball, or any sport for that matter. I found myself at a loss of being able to compete. My body might have been ready for the next level, but my mindset was not prepared. In learning how to take control of my thoughts and train my mind like I would train my body, it was crazy to see how quickly my inside world began to change in life and sport. I highly recommend Dr. Larry Widman at Max Out Mindset from firsthand experience in how applying care and attention to our minds changes not only the game we play but our lives outside of it!” -Jordy Bahl 2x National Champion, Junior at the University of Nebraska

“In 2009 I realized that athletes were changing, and I was struggling as a coach on how to relate with this current generation and needed help on building a great team. At that same time I was burned out and realized I needed to make changes if I was going to survive as a coach. I found Dr Widman who was consulting with the University of Nebraska’s Athletic Department and recruited him to create our performance team. This team approach helped me to be a better coach by giving me the skills to understand and relate to my players and build great teams that played with Ultimate Trust. They also helped me personally by changing my mindset on how to coach and take care of myself personally. This multi-disciplinary team within a team approach has been so revolutionary that I spent time outlining it in my book Dream Like a Champion. I have no doubt that Max Out Mindset can help you and your Team reach an elite level and optimize in whatever sector you are in. Simply stated, ‘It is the way to elite performance.’” - John Cook, Head Volleyball Coach, University of Nebraska

"We won it all! Without you, we never could have achieved this!!! You gave us an edge and our girls completely bought into your training. We went from mentally weak to it being a strength. Thank you so much for the wisdom and tools to help our young women grow confidence in themselves and one another. This was the accumulation of 50 years of Xavier volleyball. Our program and our school has changed forever."
- Luke Herriges, Xavier Head Volleyball Coach, 2022 Division 2 Volleyball Wisconsin State Champions