The sports community now recognizes that mental factors such as confidence, composure, focus, and motivation are highly significant to athletic performance. As a result, over the year’s performance enhancement has become an emerging career track within the field sport psychology. Sport psychology (or sports psychology) is the study of the psychological factors that affect participation and performance in sports. Sport psychology professionals who focus on performance enhancement aim to increase athletic performance by minimizing the psychological effects of poor performance and instilling the mental skill needed to attain peak performance. In order for the field of sport psychology to […]
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30
Jun
2011
What is Mental Training?
16
Jun
2011
Developing a Healthy Sports Philosophy
Sport psychology is about improving one’s attitude and mental skills to help them perform their best by identifying limiting beliefs and embracing a healthier philosophy about their sport. In order to instill a healthy belief system one must first identify irrational thoughts that limit their performance. Beliefs and attitudes such as high expectations, comfort zones and negative self-labels often limit athletic performance. These core unhealthy beliefs must be identified and replaced with a new way of thinking. One sport psychology intervention to help athlete identify negative beliefs and adapt a healthier approach is to: 1. Identify and eradicate expectations […]
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06
Apr
2011
Mental Preparation in Sports
Mental preparation is a very broad topic within the arena of sports psychology. The purpose of mental preparation is to create a mindset that lets you consistently perform up to your capabilities and talents in competition. Mental preparation includes two pain components. The first component begins days (or even weeks) before competition and includes learning the strategies that instill greater mental toughness. For example athletes should begin working on their focus, confidence, composure and other important mental game strategies. The second component of mental preparation is applying specific pregame routines that help you perform at your best. These routines […]
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14
Mar
2011
How Stephen Strasburg Gets Into A Rhythm
Baseball players like to get into a certain rhythm. Pitchers and batters alike go through a routine to get into that rhythm to help them reach peak performance. Washington National’s pitching phenom, Stephen Strasburg, prefers to feel a good rhythm on the mound. “I like to keep the same tempo throughout the game. When I get out of rhythm, or speed up a little, it affects my focus. I just got to remember to stick to my routine before each pitch. This helps me keep the same rhythm and focus no matter what happens,” said Strasburg. Why is it […]
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13
Mar
2011
Anticipating the Unexpected in Sports: Part 1
In game 1 of the American League Championship Series, the Texas Rangers broke out to a 5-0 lead over the New York Yankees. After six straight shutout innings the Yankees looked as if they were ready to throw in the towel. “They’re pitcher was rolling, but the last six, nine outs are the toughest to get. We know one pitch to another can change the momentum of the game,” said Former Texas Ranger, Alex Rodriguez. “We always say we have 27 outs,” said Robinson Cano, who had three hits and two RBI for the Yankees. “Until they get the […]
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13
Mar
2011
Anticipating the Unexpected in Sports: Part 2
As coach it is crucial that you prepare for every obstacle and setback your team may face throughout the season. Seasons never go completely as planned. For example, coaches needs to anticipate the game conditions, the weather, injuries, and player distractions. Successful coaches anticipate these obstacles and have a strategy for coping with setbacks. Some people may argue that anticipating setbacks is not a very positive way to mentally prepare for competition. But like I previously stated, nothing ever goes according to the plan in sports.Your team must be prepared to roll with the punches and make the necessary […]
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28
Feb
2011
Examining the “Yips” in Golf
The ’yips’ are one of golf’s most perplexing challenges, and have driven many good golfers to give up the game. Symptoms of the ‘yips’ include jerks, tremors and freezing, which act as a performance barrier for golfers in competition. Players describe the ‘yips’ as involuntary muscle spasms and feelings of pressure and anxiety. In many golfers, the pathophysiology of the ‘yips’ is believed to be an acquired deterioration in the function of motor pathways (e.g. those involving the basal ganglia) which are exacerbated when a threshold of high stress and physiologic arousal is exceeded. Research suggests that the ‘yips’ […]
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27
Feb
2011
Does Physical Talet Guarantee Success?
Every athlete who is serious about their sport wants to be a champion. A hallmark of all great athletes is superior mental toughness and a championship mindset. However, for some athletes, mental training is an untouched avenue to improving sports performance. That’s why we teach sports parents and coaches how to encourage their athletes to have a strong mental game. Many athletes don’t realize that resources are available to improve their mental game. When under performing or in a slump, most athletes are quick to change other aspects of their performance, such as coaching, equipment, or strategy before realizing […]
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24
Feb
2011
Frustration and Aggression in Sports
Players and spectators “talk trash” all the time in sports at every level. It is just another aspect of the game in many sports. Mentally tough athletes remain focused, composed and relaxed in the face of trash talk. They have the ability to fully immerse into their performance – unfazed by what others have to say. Problems with trash talk occur when athletes let it affect their composure and emotional control. During the heat of the battle trash talk can lead to frustration and aggression, which is what we want to avoid. So how can you help player’s avoid […]
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23
Feb
2011
Understanding Your Kids Behavior in Sports
Parents should not make assumptions about their kids’ behavior in sports. You might feel your child is not trying hard enough, is a poor sport, or maybe even takes the game too serious. When your kids appear to be struggling with their performance it is important that you communicate with them to identify the root of their behavior. For example, as a young athlete I held high expectations for my performance. These high expectations became strict demands that I needed to meet each game, such as going 4-for-4 at the plate. When I made a mistake or failed to […]
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