Expectation can be perceived in two ways. One way is the way supporters see it. When supporters see the media or other supporters expecting their team to win, it gives them hope and increases their own belief that their team is going to win. This therefore is a good thing for the supporters because they are looking forward to a match and are happy because they are pretty much convinced that their team is going to win. However there is a flip side to this and this comes in the form of what the players who are expected to […]
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20
May
2013
Tips for Building Team Confidence
As the coach you are not alone in supporting your team’s confidence. It is beneficial for coaches to identify members of the team that can help boost team confidence and promote success. Once you identify players with leadership capabilities have the team select or have your team elect a captain and co-captain. Team captains act as a liaison between players and coaches, so they will help you support team confidence. Other players look up to team leaders for guidance, reassurance, and encouragement as they do the coach. In sports team leaders are a valuable team asset you should use […]
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07
May
2013
Centering Techniques for Sports
In Chapter 8 of Psyched to Win Dr. Nideffer refers to “Centering” as a technique, borrowed from the martial arts, whose purpose is to instill feelings of emotional control. These simple breathing and cueing exercises are used to calm and relax both the mind and body. Center of Mass Your Center of Mass is located one or two inches below and behind your navel. If one can consciously bring one’s attention to this point, one feels grounded or centered. In Dr. Nideffer’s article for class, he describes the importance of keeping a balanced, stable lower center of mass. This […]
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30
Apr
2013
Roy Halladay Turns to Late Sport Psychologist
PHILADELPHIA — In the past, Roy Halladay would have picked up the phone and called Harvey Dorfman for his insight. His words and advice had proven invaluable to him. Halladay credits Dorfman, the famed sports psychologist, for much of his success as a pitcher, helping resurrect his career after a demotion from the big leagues to Class A Dunedin in 2001. But here was Halladay, two starts into the 2013 season, 0-2 with a 14.73 ERA, looking nothing like a two-time Cy Young Award winner or one of the best pitchers of his generation. He looked lost. Had Halladay […]
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15
Dec
2012
Attentional Focus and Self-Talk
Attentional Focus and Best Use of Self-Talk in Closed Skill Tasks International rugby stars and place kickers Dan Carter, Ronan O Gara and Jonny Wilkinson, among many others place the ball, set themselves, say something to themselves and mostly go about their business and put the ball between the posts. So what exactly are they saying and why? Research has shown that the use of psychological techniques can enhance sporting performance (Krane & Williams, 2006). Use of psychological techniques, cognitive strategies or mental training has been commonly used by high performance athletes for many years. Aided by the growth […]
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08
Nov
2012
Sports Psychology and Mental Training
Most athletes are highly committed to excellence and seeing how far they can go in sports. They love competition and testing themselves against the best in their sport. They understand the importance of a positive attitude and mental toughness. These athletes want every possible advantage they can get including the mental edge over the competition. Sports Psychology is about improving your attitude and mental toughness to help you perform your best by identifying limiting beliefs and embracing a healthier philosophy about your sport. Mental training is used by elite athletes to help improve focus, confidence and deal with distractions. […]
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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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24
Sep
2012
How to Manage the Competition in Your Sport
Many athletes sometimes get anxious when they compete with one another. Here is a list of techniques that an athlete can use to help manage the stress of dealing with the competition. 1. Learn as much as you can on your opponent. There is always something to learn about your competition. Read the reports about your opponent and watch him or her performance. Try to figure out an angle on how you can beat your competition. This will also help to reduce your worries in the future. 2. Don’t Assume Do not assume anything about your competition whether they […]
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22
Sep
2012
Overcoming Fear In Your Sport
Sometimes, fear can be a factor in your sport. Here are some suggestions on how an athlete can use to help manage their fears and every day anxieties. 1.Self Visualization Occasionally, a person may get anxious on an upcoming event. When this happens, visualize yourself doing the task in your mind. For instance, you have to perform in the championship game in front of a large group of people in the next few days. Before the big day comes, imagine yourself performing. Self-Visualization is a great way to reduce the fear and stress of a coming situation. 2. Take […]
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04
Sep
2012
How Mental Attitudes Shape Performance
Basketball psychology is in essence the study of how mental attitudes shape performance on the court. Basketball psychology studies have shown that although physical conditioning and teamwork are crucial to success in basketball, mental toughness is every bit as valuable as physical prowess. When the buzzer rings and the game is on, it’s the mental game of basketball’s particular hybrid of battle strategy and mental endurance that makes or breaks player’s performance. To say that sports psychology for basketball is of great importance would be putting it mildly. To properly analyze a player’s performance, basketball psychology has two crucial […]
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