Scott Ratliff on Mental Toughness, Confidence, and Leadership
Episode Overview
In Episode 49 of the Lax Goalie Rat Podcast, Coach Damon Wilson sits down with Scott Ratliff, elite long-stick midfielder and professional lacrosse player, to discuss mental toughness and how athletes can use it to perform at their best.
Drawing from his experiences at the collegiate and professional levels, Scott shares practical strategies for handling adversity, building confidence, and developing habits that help athletes bounce back from mistakes. Although the conversation is especially valuable for lacrosse goalies, these lessons apply to players at every position and can be carried into everyday life.
Scott also shares what he values most in a goalie from a defender's perspective, including communication, energy, consistency, and the ability to move the ball quickly after a save. He closes by discussing the Give and Go Foundation and its mission to grow the game of lacrosse around the world.
What You'll Learn in This Episode
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Body language and confidence: How your reactions after mistakes affect your confidence, teammates, coaches, and opponents.
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Positive self-talk: How to recognise negative thought patterns and replace them with words that reinforce confidence and composure.
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The Rapid Rebound strategy: How to shift your focus forward, identify the next right move, and make small adjustments after setbacks.
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Practising mental toughness: Why everyday challenges in practice are opportunities to develop habits that will help you during high-pressure games.
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Reflection and journaling: How writing about moments of frustration, stress, or doubt can help you recognise opportunities for improvement.
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Leadership on the field: Why mental toughness, positive energy, and strong communication can make you a more valuable teammate.
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What defenders want from their goalies: Scott explains the importance of a loud, clear voice, consistent saves, smart decision-making, and accurate outlets that create transition opportunities.
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Growing lacrosse worldwide: Learn about the Give and Go Foundation and its work supporting lacrosse communities through coaching, clinics, and outreach.
Key Takeaways
Mental toughness is a skill that can be trained, just like stick skills or footwork. Instead of expecting yourself to handle every setback perfectly, start by recognising small moments of adversity and using them as opportunities to improve.
Scott highlights three practical mental toughness exercises:
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Body language: Practise responding to mistakes with confidence rather than frustration.
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Self-talk: Identify the emotion you're experiencing and use positive words or phrases to reinforce the mindset you want to develop.
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Rapid Rebound: Stop dwelling on what has already happened and focus on the next right action.
These habits can help goalies recover after conceding a goal, respond to being pulled from a game, or work through a difficult stretch of the season. More importantly, they can build resilience that carries over into relationships, work, and life beyond lacrosse.
About Scott Ratliff
Scott Ratliff is a professional lacrosse player known for his impact as a long-stick midfielder. He has competed at the collegiate and professional levels and is passionate about mental toughness, leadership, and helping athletes navigate adversity.
Scott is also a co-founder of the Give and Go Foundation, an organisation dedicated to supporting lacrosse communities and expanding access to the sport around the world.
Learn more about the Give and Go Foundation: https://givegofund.com/
Resources Mentioned
Listen and Learn
Whether you're a goalie working to regain confidence after a tough game, a defender looking to become a stronger leader, or a coach helping athletes handle pressure, this episode offers practical ways to build mental toughness one moment at a time.
Listen to the full conversation with Scott Ratliff and start putting these strategies into practice on and off the field.
