Nico Ilkanheimo
I hold a Master’s degree in Sport Sciences and work as a mental and performance coach as well as an instructor in psychological skills training for disc golf. I have over 15 years of experience in coaching and performance development across various sports, and I have worked systematically in mental and performance coaching since 2018. I have been involved in psychological skills training for disc golf since 2022.
My own relationship with disc golf is long-standing and deeply passionate—I have played the sport since 2011. In my coaching work, I have supported both recreational players and promising Finnish juniors competing at semi-professional and professional levels. My coaching approach is always built around the player’s individual starting point, goals, and the overall picture of performance.
My background combines strong research-based expertise with extensive practical coaching experience. Over the years, I have worked as a personal trainer, an ice hockey coach, and a mental and performance coach for esports athletes. My expertise is grounded in a broad and continuous review of professional literature and research, as well as ongoing development through expert networks, mentoring, and professional collaboration.
The core of my coaching and educational work is practicality and the development of self-awareness. My goal is not merely to provide isolated tools, but to help players understand why and how psychological skills influence performance. As understanding grows, these skills become genuinely applicable to both training and competition over the long term.
The goal of this course is to help you reduce performance inconsistency and perform at your own best possible level more consistently, even under pressure.
Program (in Finnish): https://joonasmerela.com/store/psyykkinen-harjoittelu-frisbeegolfissa/