Sixers getting mindset right with Steventon

High performance sport is as much about being mentally fit as it is being physically fit.

It’s why the Adelaide 36ers have been tapping into one of the most experienced performance mindset coaches in Australian sport.

David Steventon has been working with elite athletes in the AFL, state cricket and Super Netball for a decade, helping players build mental toughness, focus during high-stress moments, and tap into their peak potential.  

He first started working one-on-one with 36ers co-captain DJ Vasiljevic last season and now offers his services to the whole playing roster.

“Working with David has changed my life for the better,” Vasiljevic explained.

“When I first came to Adelaide I was not in a good mental state and it was impacting me on and off the court.

“David has helped me to get on top of that to the point that I’m now captaining a great Adelaide 36ers franchise and supporting my teammates through their own challenges.

“Mental fitness is like physical fitness; you have to keep working on it. We’re really fortunate to have David around to keep us on track in that space.”

Fresh off a decade with the Port Adelaide Football Club in the AFL and AFLW, Steventon knows the importance of mindset to success in high performance sport.

He continues to work with the Adelaide Thunderbirds in the Suncorp Super Netball competition, helping them to their titles in 2023 and 2024.

“That's given me great experience to understand the differences in sport, but also the similarities in terms of what athletes need in the mental space,” Steventon explained.

“It ends up being quite similar across sports; it's about building belief by having a ‘process first’ mindset and doing the work on the mental side so that you can back your skills and intentions when it comes time to perform.

“When athletes work consistently in these areas, they can go into game feeling more relaxed and composed mentally, and the performance can flow from there.”

And he says the 36ers group has been keen to take on his advice.

“My approach is that all of these guys already possess the resources that they need to succeed,” Steventon said.

“It's my job to help them bring out what they've already naturally got that's brought them here, and with some targeted work we can boost those things up, get any performance barriers out of the way, and then we can focus on bringing our best to the moments out there.

“They're a great bunch of fellas and they're really eager to learn.  You can see that they're willing to look at whatever they feel might help make them better - whether it's bedding down the strategy or more reps on key skills or whether it's building their mental game.

“I've been pretty impressed with how quickly the players and coaches have welcomed me in and are using what I can offer.”