TRAIN THE
MIND
FIRST.
Mental performance coaching for competitive athletes at any level. Whether you are a high school freshman just getting started or a college athlete competing for a starting spot, the mental side of sport is what separates good athletes from great ones.
D1 Beach Volleyball · 4 Division I Programs · UVA Grad in 3 Years · 2 Master's Degrees · First Team All Conference
The Coach Behind the Program
D1
Beach Volleyball
4
Division I Programs
2
Master's Degrees
1ST
Team All Conference
Founded by an active D1 athlete who built this program because she lived every part of it.
About Saskia
YOUR ATHLETE SPENDS COUNTLESS HOURS TRAINING THEIR BODY.
BUT WHAT ABOUT THEIR MIND?
We help athletes build confidence, manage pressure, overcome setbacks, and perform their best when it matters most. Whether they are trying to earn a varsity spot, compete at the college level, or simply enjoy their sport again, mental performance is the difference between potential and performance.
Saskia Hernandez is an active Division I beach volleyball athlete at Texas A&M Corpus Christi and First Team All Conference honoree. She earned her bachelor's degree from the University of Virginia in three years and has since earned two master's degrees. She founded The Sas Effect to address the most overlooked part of athletic development. The mental game. Her collegiate career took her from NC State to the University of Virginia, then to Florida International University, and ultimately to Texas A&M Corpus Christi. That journey across four Division I programs taught her more about the mental game than any practice ever could. She did not just study mental performance. She lived it. Every transfer, every new team, every moment of doubt and every breakthrough shaped the coach she is today and the program she built for athletes who are going through the same thing.
Full story
BUILT BY AN ATHLETE WHO HAS BEEN THERE.
DESIGNED FOR ATHLETES READY TO GO FURTHER.
The Real Problem
HERE IS THE PROBLEM.
Most athletes spend hundreds of hours training their body and almost no time training their mind. They work on their serve, their passing, their hitting. But the second they step on the court in a high pressure moment and their mind starts spiraling, nobody ever taught them what to do. That gap between practice performance and game performance is not a skill problem. It is a mental game problem.
I KNOW BECAUSE I LIVED IT.
I transferred four times across four Division I programs. Every single time I had to walk into a new locker room, earn my spot again, and perform under a completely different kind of pressure with nobody coaching my mind through it. I had to figure it out on my own. And honestly it almost broke me.
I built The Sas Effect because I wish I had this when I was going through it. Having someone guide you through the mental side of competing, someone who has been through it personally and not just read about it in a textbook, would have been a game changer for me. You should not have to figure this out alone. That is exactly what I am here for.
What We Work On
EVERYTHING AN ATHLETE NEEDS TO COMPETE
AT THEIR HIGHEST LEVEL.
Mental Performance
Confidence. Self talk. Handling pressure. Bouncing back from mistakes. The mental game that separates good athletes from great ones.
IncludedNutrition
Performance fueling built around your sport and your schedule. What to eat, when to eat it, and how to show up ready on game day.
Add onSchedule Mapping
One session where we build your full calendar together. School, games, practices, and life organized so nothing gets dropped.
Included in FoundationRecruiting Prep
Build your profile, learn how to reach out to coaches, and run mock calls so you are completely ready when it matters.
Add onIn Person Volleyball Lessons
Available for local athletes in the Miami area. One on one private volleyball training sessions focused on skill development, technique, and performance improvement. Contact me directly to schedule your first session.
Contact for pricing and availabilityREADY TO BUILD YOUR MENTAL GAME?
See pricingCoaching
FOUR PACKAGES.
ONE FOCUS.
Every athlete is in a different place. Find the one that fits yours.
Get Started
The Foundation
$350 /month
Where it starts. Two sessions a month, weekly check ins, and mental homework designed to build the foundation your game has been missing.
Minimum 3 month commitment. True change is not seen in just a month.
- 2 one on one calls per month
- Weekly check in text with one focused topic
- Weekly mental homework built around your sport
- Academic mapping and scheduling in month one
Most Popular
The Momentum
$600 /month
Where it builds. Four sessions a month, full accountability, weekly support, and a clear direction for where your athletic career is headed.
Minimum 3 month commitment. True change is not seen in just a month.
- 4 one on one calls per month
- Weekly mental homework and accountability
- Priority scheduling and first access to my calendar
- Weekly text support between every session
- Vision and direction for where you want to go
- Monthly progress check so you see how far you have come
- Free monthly webinar with elite coaches and mentors
Most Premium
The Effect
$1,000 /month
Where it all comes together. Everything in The Momentum plus the highest level of access, documented progress, and a monthly recruiting strategy session.
Minimum 3 month commitment. True change is not seen in just a month.
- Everything in The Momentum
- Highest priority access with a weekday response window
- Documented transformation with baseline, midpoint, and end reviews
- One recruiting strategy consultation each month
Group Option
The Group Effect
$120 /mo per person
Where the work gets done together. One group session every week, a private community, and free monthly webinars with elite coaches and mentors. Mental performance is easier when you are not doing it alone.
Minimum 4 · Maximum 8
- 1 group session per week focused on a rotating mental performance topic
- Group sessions where athletes work through challenges together and hold each other accountable
- Private group chat for support and community between sessions
- Free monthly webinar featuring elite coaches and mentors
- A shared space to grow alongside other athletes who are doing the mental work
Build Your Program
Recruiting strategy and mock calls
$197 per month
Nutrition guidance
$397 per month
Extra text support
$47 per month
Extra session
$100 per session
In person private lessons
Contact for pricing
Online volleyball coaching
$100 per session
Results
WHAT ATHLETES AND PARENTS ARE SAYING.
The mental skills I developed through The Sas Effect changed the way I compete entirely. I stopped letting mistakes affect the next play and started showing up with real confidence in the moments that matter.
Jordan Mitchell
Competitive Athlete
I always assumed the mental side would take care of itself if I just put in enough physical work. This program showed me how wrong I was and gave me tools I use in competition every single week.
Camille Rivera
Competitive Athlete
The progress my daughter has made since working with Saskia has been remarkable. Her confidence, composure, and focus have improved in ways that go well beyond her sport.
Parent of Sofia Thomas
How It Works
HOW IT WORKS.
Book a Free Discovery Call
In a free 15 minute call, we talk about your sport, your goals, and what has been holding you back. There is no pressure and no commitment required.
Build Your Plan
We pick the right package and figure out if any add ons make sense for your athlete right now.
Start Building Your Mental Game
You receive weekly calls, check in texts, and mental homework built specifically for your situation. This is where the real work begins.
By The Numbers
THE RESULTS SPEAK.
0
Division I Programs
0
All Conference Title
0%
Committed to Your Mental Game
READY TO TRAIN THE PART OF YOUR GAME NOBODY ELSE IS COACHING?
Book your free 15 minute discovery call. There is no commitment required. This is simply a conversation about your athlete and what they need most.
Book a Free Call