Confidence is the keystone to performing at your best. When athletes are confident, their mind and body are relaxed allowing them to perform at their best. There are a few things that can be done to ensure you have the highest level of confidence possible. First of all, engineer your approach to competition so that you are doing things that you have already successfully done in the past. Just knowing that you done it successfully before, will give you confidence. Be sure you stick to your game plan. It is a common mistake of teams to see their competition […]
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25
Oct
2012
Developing High Levels of Confidence
17
Oct
2012
Driven From Within
To watch an athlete play any game is like watching poetry in motion. The lines are so smooth and precise and each move is made with a certain determination and strategy. As they take the inside lane in track and field or run 80 yards on a punt return in football, it is amazing to see how they move. The angles are so clean and their ability to stop on a dime is like nothing you have ever seen in life. There is a certain rhythm and timing to how the body responds in the game. Where does this […]
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16
Oct
2012
Coaches Focused on Wrong Goals
All coaches dream of having an amazing team that can win it all. Unfortunately, some coaches take this too far, damaging not only their athletes, but also the coaches themselves. A successful team is not only built with skill, but also with the team’s mental state. There is a fine line between pushing athletes to their mental limits and damaging their self-esteem. A good coach knows his or her team and understands where that line is. The “ideal coach” needs to fulfill the characteristics of a teacher, a manager, a trainer, a strategist, a player, and a parent, according […]
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09
Oct
2012
Sport Psychology Coaching
Sport psychology is the study of the psychological factors that affect participation and performance in sports. Sport psychology coaches aim to increase athletic performance by minimizing the psychological effects of poor performance and instilling the mental skill needed to attain peak performance. They work with and educate athletes, coaches, parents, teams and organizations from diverse sports background on the mental components of sport performance. Sport psychology coaches differ from sports psychologist in that there are not licensed clinical psychologists. However, all of our sports psychology coaches at Mental Edger Athletics have equal or higher levels of experience and education […]
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02
Oct
2012
Taking Action Against Bully Coaches
Young athletes are bullied by coaches as well as peers, which is unacceptable in youth sports. Have your sports kids ever had a coach who yelled at, insulted or intimidated them? If so, you need to take action. We’ve got some tips—and warnings—for you about what we call “bully coaches.” Bully coaches target all kinds of young athletes. They can set their sights on kids who are overweight, small or who lack confidence, for instance. These coaches also target gifted athletes because they believe their approach will “toughen up” their athletes. Whether your athletes are underdogs or stars, your […]
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26
Sep
2012
The Tennis Ball or The Egg?
The TENNIS BALL or the EGG. Who do you choose to be? It doesn’t matter that my presentation today was to a room full of young women who happened to play volleyball. The “lesson” I chose to share today was wrapped up in three (well, maybe four) , very unassuming words: “tennis ball or egg.” For it was in the answer to the question “Who do you want to be, the tennis ball or egg?” that could leave anyone to ponder. This team of girls had noticed that when they made a mistake they lost their minds, so to […]
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04
Sep
2012
How Bully Coaching Affects Athletes
Below is a quote from one of our athletes who is a 16 year-old high school quarterback who loved football and had the potential to start as a freshman — until the coach destroyed his mental game… “Going into high school I was a standout athlete with high confidence but after my freshman year I started to lose interest. It just wasn’t fun anymore. I hated practice because I was always worrying about messing up and being embarrassed by the coach. In games I worried about what he would do or say if I made a mistake so I […]
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13
Jun
2012
UK Sports Psychologist Helps Youth Team
A youth football team or soccer team as well call it in the states, has called in a sport psychologists to help their young athletes gain a mental edge over their opponents. The Edinburgh team has developed Scottish internationals like John Collins and Kenny Miller in the past, but some parents have questioned the club’s extreme measures. The club defended the move and said that suitable discussions were held before bringing in the psychologist. “We spoke to the parents first about using performance psychology and they’ve been very supportive,” said club leader Tam Smith. “It’s about creating positive thinking […]
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10
Jun
2012
Sports Psychology Programs
Mental training 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. Many athletes and coaches resist mental training because they do not understand how it can help them. In order for athletes to get the most out of their sport, it is critical for them to understand the value of improving their mental game. Athletes are more likely to embrace mental training when they understand it and its benefits. Our mental training programs aim to help players and coaches discover the benefits […]
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15
May
2012
Tapping Into the Zone
Mental preparation another component of mental training that helps athletes tap into the zone. Sport psychology professionals can help athletes mental prepare through mental rehearsal, imagery, and pre-game routines. For example, a baseball player, the night before a game, might mentally rehearse the pitcher’s stuff (what pitches to anticipate and the pitcher’s release of the pitches) and how he will be successful at the plate. Another intervention is developing efficient game-specific strategies and game plans to help athletes mentally prepare for competition. This is an area beyond developing basic mental skills training in which mental coaches help athletes apply […]
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