Partnership Focused on Advancing Mental Wellness and Performance for Youth Athletes
Connecticut Junior Soccer Association (CJSA) has announced a formal partnership with Deep Breaths Counseling & Mental Performance, a Connecticut-based leader in sport psychology and mental performance consulting. This collaboration will provide innovative mental wellness and performance resources to athletes, coaches and families across the state.
The partnership builds upon an existing foundation that was established earlier this year, when Deep Breaths Counseling led multiple breakout sessions during the 2025 CJSA Leadership Symposium, an annual gathering of coaches, club directors and state soccer leaders.
“We are thrilled to partner with Deep Breaths Counseling & Mental Performance to support our soccer community,” said Josh Krusewski, CJSA Executive Director. “Having Andrew Toce, a former CJSA player and referee, leading this initiative makes it even more special. We’re confident that Andrew and his team will provide invaluable mental health and performance resources to our players, referees, families and administrators throughout Connecticut.”
As part of this collaboration, Deep Breaths Counseling will contribute monthly educational content to CJSA’s membership newsletter and host exclusive webinars covering core mental performance topics such as team culture, self-confidence, gameday anxiety and overall mental wellness. These initiatives reflect a shared commitment to developing the “whole athlete” and promoting mental health at all levels of youth soccer.
“At CJSA, our mission is to develop well-rounded players, and that goes beyond the game itself,” said Andy Parker, CJSA Grassroots Coaching Coordinator. “Partnering with Deep Breaths Counseling allows us to prioritize the mental and emotional well-being of our young athletes—helping them build confidence, resilience and healthy habits that last a lifetime. This collaboration is a meaningful step toward nurturing not just better players, but better people.”
Founded by Andrew Toce, M.Ed., MBA, LPC, CMPC, a Certified Mental Performance Consultant® and licensed professional counselor, Deep Breaths Counseling has supported athletes from youth academies to Major League Soccer with tailored strategies to enhance performance, resilience and leadership. Services include individual coaching, team workshops and organizational training for clubs and staff.
“I’m so excited for the opportunity to partner with CJSA through Deep Breaths Counseling & Mental Performance,” said Toce. “This is a big step forward in supporting the whole athlete—giving players, coaches and parents greater access to trusted mental performance coaching and counseling services. These resources will help athletes build resilience, recover from mistakes more quickly, and find success both on and off the field.”
Together, CJSA and Deep Breaths Counseling aim to strengthen the mental foundation of Connecticut’s soccer community by equipping athletes with the tools they need to succeed in the game and beyond.
“As a soccer player and official for the majority of my life, this partnership is a full-circle moment,” continued Toce. “It’s deeply meaningful to be able to give back to the Connecticut soccer community that helped shape me. What a huge moment for youth sports in our state.”
For further information about Deep Breaths Counseling & Mental Performance, check them out online: deepbreathscounseling.com
To contact the Connecticut Junior Soccer Association, please call (860) 676-1161 or email office@cjsa.org. Also make sure to follow us on social media!
