Tag: sports
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Get the Information, Forgive Yourself, and Play On: Turning Mistakes into Fuel for Performance
Mistakes are not the enemy of athletic performance. They are the raw material of progress. If you want to grow in your sport, you must face the reality that mistakes are not only inevitable, they are essential. They tell you what needs work, they direct your training focus, and they prepare you for future adversity.…
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How to Build a Pre-Performance Routine That Works!
You’ve probably seen it before: the basketball player who spins the ball in their hands the same way before each free throw. Michael Phelps slapping his back across his chest while getting ready to race. The lifter who takes the same number of breaths before every attempt. To the outside world, it might look like…
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At the Top, Mental Skills Make the Difference
I often begin working with a new team by asking the group ‘How much of your success as an athlete depends on your physical skills versus your mental skills?’ Depending on the age of the groups, I will receive answers anywhere from 50:50, 70:30, 30:70, and so on. A general trend that I have noticed…
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Taming the Tiger: Using competition to grow
Competitiveness is generally thought of as a positive trait for an athlete to have, and to a large extent it is. However, if left unchecked it can turn into a dark cloud that looms over an athlete and can dramatically impact their longevity. It is important for athletes to orient themselves correctly towards competition to…
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The Importance of Play in Sport
Sports have evolved from ancient play to organized competition, with intrinsic play fostering creativity and skill development. Coaches and athletes should prioritize play to maintain motivation and prevent burnout, enhancing enjoyment and performance. By incorporating gamification into training, they can rekindle passion and nurture athletic growth within structured frameworks.
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Mindset: The Hidden Tool to Better Performance
How do you think about yourself when performing? Whether that be on the athletic field, in the operating room, giving a presentation in front of your superiors, or right before taking an important exam. What are you thinking about? Are you excited for the opportunity to perform your best and show your skills and knowledge?…
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The Winning Edge: Why Coaches Should Prioritize Athetes’ Mental Performance
As a coach, your primary goal is to lead your team to success. While physical training plays a significant role, you understand that success in sports is not solely determined by strength and agility. The mental aspect is equally important, if not more so. Here are the top 10 reasons why coaches should utilize mental…
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Enhanced Mental Performance: Top 10 Reasons to Work With a Mental Performance Coach.
While the physical aspect of sports often takes the spotlight, what often goes unnoticed is the immense influence of the mind on performance. The best athletes know this and work to train their mind to be a powerful weapon to be wielded. Mental skills are incredibly important to a successful career but can be hard…
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Fueling the Fire: How Psychological Need Satisfaction Drives Intrinsic Motivation
Self-Determination Theory (SDT) explores athletes’ intrinsic motivation by focusing on autonomy, competence, and relatedness. Coaches can support this by involving athletes in training decisions, setting personalized goals, providing constructive feedback, promoting positive team dynamics, allowing choice in competition prep, fostering leadership, and adapting to individual differences. SDT empowers athletes to excel with passion and resilience.
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From Ancient Philosophies to Modern Science: The Journey of Sport Psychology
While Sport Psychology as a formal subject of study and practice is relatively young, the idea of training the mind to enhance performance either on the battle or sports field is ancient. Norman Tripplett, considered a pioneer of the field, examined the effects of social facilitation on cyclists in 1898, however the roots of Sport…