What Animal is Your Athlete?

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Quiz Questions

1.
Your athlete just made a big mistake in a game. What do you see happen right after?
- A.
  They shut down completely — stone face, won't look at you, and don't want to talk
- B.
  They get visibly upset, might cry or seem defeated, and look to you for reassurance right away.
- C.
  They get frustrated but brush it off quickly and try to rally their teammates.
- D.
  They spiral — one mistake leads to more mistakes, and their whole demeanor falls apart.
- E.
  They get annoyed and snap at you or a teammate, then act like it didn't happen.
- F.
  They go quiet and withdraw, clearly replaying it in their head, but push you away if you try to help.
2.
It's five minutes before a big game or tryout. Where do you find your athlete?
- A.
  Looking for you or a teammate — they need someone to hype them up and tell them they've got this.
- B.
  Off by themselves, headphones in or staring at the field. They don't want to be approached.
- C.
  Talking to teammates, checking in on everyone, making sure the group energy is good.
- D.
  Quiet and tense — they might say they're fine but their body language says they're nervous.
- E.
  Alone, going through their own mental routine. They seem focused but would never admit feeling nervous.
- F.
  Withdrawn and hard to read — they're processing internally and don't want to be pulled out of it.
3.
You try to give your athlete some coaching feedback. How do they typically respond?
- A.
  They listen but seem distracted, then go do it their own way anyway.
- B.
  They make excuses or find a reason why it wasn't their fault.
- C.
  They nod and want more — they like knowing exactly what to fix and how.
- D.
  They take it personally and need a moment to recover before they can apply it.
- E.
  They listen once, apply it immediately, and don't need it repeated.
- F.
  They absorb it and want to understand how it helps the bigger picture or the team.
4.
Your athlete has a really great performance. How do they react afterward?
- A.
  They light up and want to celebrate with everyone — sharing the win is the best part.
- B.
  They're relieved and proud, but mostly looking to you to see if you noticed.
- C.
  They act like it was expected — minimal reaction, maybe a nod or a quiet smile.
- D.
  They're happy but bring it back to the team — how it helped everyone succeed.
- E.
  They seem satisfied with themselves but don't want a big deal made of it in front of others.
- F.
  They soak up the recognition but in a "finally, someone sees it" kind of way.
5.
Your athlete is going through a difficult stretch — not performing well, losing confidence. What do you observe?
- A.
  They get clingy and emotional — they need constant reassurance that you still believe in them.
- B.
  They become increasingly guarded and start pushing people away, including you.
- C.
  They get quiet and retreat inward. They'll work through it alone but seem distant.
- D.
  They seem paralyzed — they overthink every decision and look frozen before acting.
- E.
  They get harder on themselves and can appear cold or detached, but they're still competing hard.
- F.
  They lose their spark — when they're disconnected from the team or the purpose, motivation drops.
6.
How does your athlete typically behave around other athletes — whether that's teammates, training partners, or competitors?
- A.
  They're the social glue — always checking in, lifting others up, and keeping the energy positive.
- B.
  They lead by example and set the standard through their actions, without needing to say much.
- C.
  They're strategic and collaborative — they genuinely care about how everyone around them performs and succeeds.
- D.
  They're friendly but selective — they have their people and keep some walls up with everyone else.
- E.
  They're pleasant but self-contained — they don't need the group energy to feel ready or confident.
- F.
  They want to fit in and be liked by everyone, but hold back when they feel unsure of themselves.
7.
When your athlete faces a high-pressure moment — a penalty kick, a tie-breaker, a final audition — what do you see?
- A.
  They step forward and want the ball — they thrive in the spotlight.
- B.
  They step up because they feel responsible to the team, not because they crave the spotlight.
- C.
  They hesitate or hang back, hoping someone else takes it.
- D.
  They act confident but you can see the tension — they want to perform but fear getting it wrong.
- E.
  They go quiet and focused — they want to do it their way without anyone watching too closely.
- F.
  They look to you or a teammate first, needing a sign that you believe they can do it.
8.
If you approach your athlete after a loss or hard day to check in, what typically happens?
- A.
  They open up and need to talk it through with you — connection helps them process.
- B.
  They say they're fine and change the subject, but you can tell they're still processing alone.
- C.
  They brush you off or get defensive — they don't want to be seen as struggling.
- D.
  They tell you they're fine and seem to genuinely mean it — they've already moved on.
- E.
  They're visibly upset and you can tell they're waiting for you to say the right thing.
- F.
  They want to talk but frame everything around the team — how did everyone else take it?

Quiz Outcomes

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What Animal is Your Athlete?

Answer 8 quick questions about what you observe in your athlete and we'll show you exactly which Animal Matrix type they are — plus how to communicate with them in a way that actually lands.

Quiz Questions

Quiz Outcomes