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ELITE SPORT. PSYCHOLOGY. HUMAN PERFORMANCE
Own yourself and take your team to the next level
Build the confidence, resilience and habits to move forwards in your game, in your team, & in your life.
We deliver mindset & performance programmes for clubs & schools. Speaking & workshops for organisations.
Led by Francis de Vries and supported by Head Start's custom made software system.
Francis de Vries • NZ Football 2026 World Cup Squad
BUILD BETTER PLAYERS & SKILLS FOR LIFE
For Clubs and Schools
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Give young people the tools to back themselves, respond to setbacks and become great teammates. Practical development which makes mindset actionable both on & beyond the pitch in a way that supports players, coaches, & parents.​​
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Engaging mindset lessons and real-life challenges
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Confidence, focus, resilience and ownership
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Tools to support coaches and track development
INSPIRE YOUR PEOPLE & PUT MINDSET INTO ACTION
Corporate Speaking and Workshops
Bring the human lessons of professional sport into your workplace. Francis combines personal stories with his education in psychology to help teams build clarity on key objectives, navigate change and perform under pressure.
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Keynotes for conferences, offsites and team events
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Interactive workshop & quartelry programmes
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Tailored to your people, goals and challenges
2026 World Cup Prep • USA
LIVED EXPERIENCE FOR LASTING LESSONS
The setbacks which shape the story
My career as a pro footballer has contained plenty of uncertainty, setbacks & doubt. From serious knee injuries to climbing back through the lower leagues to international football and the 2026 World Cup squad.
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I know what it feels like when the path you imagined disappears. Rebuilding my career meant learning how to handle uncertainty, keep showing up when it was difficult, and find confidence through taking action.
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Alongside my football career, I've studied psychology. Head Start brings those two worlds together; the lived experience of pursuing & achieving a demanding goal, and the evidence based understanding of how to help others pursue theirs.
PROFESSIONAL FOOTBALL
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NZ International
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Auckland FC
PSYCHOLOGY EDUCATION
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B.A. Psych (Hons)
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M.S. Health Science
THE HEAD START METHOD
Growth starts with taking ownership
You can’t control every result, selection or challenge. You can learn to own your mindset, your responses and your actions. We make that practical through three simple steps.
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Awareness
Clarity & Communication
Understand what matters to you & your team, especially how you think and what helps you perform. Get clarity on your goals & key objectives and how to align behaviours as a strong team to create sustainable success.
02
Adjustment
Adaptability & Resilience
Learn to work with constant change, respond constructively to setbacks, and turn priorities into daily habits & measurable progress. Turn learnings into action through purposeful next steps.
03
Expression
Perform with Pressure
Create a real impact. Maintain decision making quality and execution during disruption, stay consistent in personal & team behaviours for success, and achieve your objectives.
FIND YOUR HEAD START
The thinking that reached a World Cup - now inside your organisation
If Francis' journey resonates with how you want your team to think, perform, and lead that is exactly what Head Start brings to your business
REACH OUT TO FRANCIS
Discover how Head Start can lift your team's performance and help your people unlock their potential.
Every engagement begins with a conversation about your needs and how Head Start is uniquely positioned to help you and your team thrive.
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