A Monthly Publication of Peak Performance Sports
Issue 105 ................................................................................. February 2, 2010
Welcome to Sports Insights Magazine
Welcome to Sports Insights Magazine! Learn practical, cutting-edge sports psychology and mental training tips to improve mental toughness in sports.
If you enjoy our free mental toughness newsletter, please click here to forward it to other athletes and coaches.
Golfers: Improve Your Golf Confidence for 2010! Dr. Cohn's new CD and workbook program teaches you the top eight lessons to play with mental toughness on the course. Read more about how to improve confidence in golf...
Tennis Players: Boost Confidence for Tournament Tennis! Learn how to boost your tennis confidence with Dr. Cohn's unique 8-week mental training course for tournament tennis players!
Parents and Coaches: Improve Sports Kids' Success with Kids' Sports Psychology! Kids' Sports Psychology is a one-stop, exclusive 10-step plan for boosting confidence and cultivating positive mental game skills in young athletes! Download age-specific confidence-boosting mental game e-books for young athletes. Learn how to boost sports kids' sports success...
Free Mental Toughness Reports! Golfers: Improve Your Preshot Routine. Baseball and Softball Players and Coaches: Improve At-Bat Routines. Tennis Players and Coaches: Improve Your Mindset Between Points! Hockey Players and Coaches: Improve your Pregame Mindset! Parents and Youth Coaches: Boost Kids' Confidence and Success in Sports!
Locker Room Talk
"Outstanding articles and classes at Peaksports"
“Dr. Cohn, keep up the AWESOME work with Peaksports Network!!! The overall information, articles, and teleclasses are simply outstanding. I really want to enroll in your MGCP certification course by the end of next year.”
~Radek Sefcik, Professional MMA
Feature Mental Game Article
Why Perspective and Balance in Life Helps You Succeed
By Patrick J. Cohn, Ph.D.
I've always thought that a good perspective of sports in an athlete's life is very important to success. And this past weekend, I discovered another confirmation of my theory, which I'll reveal in a moment. First, allow me to explain my reasoning...
Dedicated athletes, who spend a ton of time training each week, are prone to get trapped in the success syndrome. They fall into the trap of defining their self-worth based on their performance in sports. If you define yourself based on your sport, you lack a balance between sports and other areas of your life.
When you define your self-worth based on your success (or lack of success) in sports, your sport is out of balance with your life. Having a greater perspective of how sports fits into your life is valuable. You'll feel less pressure to succeed and be happier in the pursuit of your goals, which is a good thing.
When you have a more balance in your life and sport does not consume you 24/7, you can play with more freedom and relaxation.
The number one tennis player in the world, Roger Federer, just won his 16th major championship in tennis, which is a new record. I believe his perspective on sports and the role of tennis in his life helps him play relaxed and focused tennis. Federer was very content Sunday after beating Andy Murray in straight sets 6-3, 6-4, 7-6 for his 16th Grand Slam title. But he is also content with his life off the court.
"I'm excited about life, and there is not only tennis," Federer said one day after defeating Andy Murray to win the 2010 Australian Open.
Keeping sports in perspective in your life can also help in times of adversity. Experienced athletes have the advantage of greater perspective of the role of sports in their life. For Federer, finding balance with tennis and his family has been a key to his success...
"Having kids and being a father now and being married enhances everything," Federer said. "I'm such a happy person today to see how well everything is working out for me. It just makes me extremely happy, extremely relaxed and it allows me to play good tennis, and I couldn't ask for more."
______________________________________________________
Want to Become a Mental Game Coach to Athletes? Enroll in Our Unique
Mental Game Coaching Professional Certification Program!
Apply for the 2010 Spring Course Starting in February!
______________________________________________________Federer has strived to keep a good balance between his family and sports. "I feel like I've always had a good distance from the game. You don't want to feel like you have to play tennis, because it's something that was an opportunity, and now that I have it I want to savor it as long as I can."
Federer's vision of his tennis and how it fits into his life, gives him clarity, which allows him get through the tough times as well as savor the good times. "But off the court, it's a matter of relaxing and enjoying it, you know, seeing friends and families. There's more important things than tennis, after all. I think that's something I've always had a clear vision of how my life is, you know. I think that's also helped me to go through better and tougher phases because I know this is an incredible trip I'm on," said Federer.
When you have greater perspective and balance in life, sports is not life or death. You're not as hungry to win or put as much pressure on yourself to succeed. Then, you can play more relaxed. "My game is not as taxing as other players' games. I also think I have a very relaxed mind when it comes to the game of tennis. I'll definitely try my best on the court. I'm professional the way I'm supposed to be," said Federer after winning the championship.
What are the keys to balancing sport with other areas of your life? First, I suggest you be mindful of not defining your self-worth based on your success in sports. Your self-worth or self-esteem should be based on "the person" instead of "the athlete." You are way more than an athlete.
Second, find other hobbies and interests outside of sports that you can enjoy. Spend quality time with your family that does not involve traveling to competition or training for your sport.
Third, keep sports in perspective within your life. Sports is just one activity in your life. Sports may be a big part of your life, but if you stopped competing today, what can you embrace in your life?
Want to learn all my secrets for being a relaxed athlete? Check out my CD program, The Relaxed Athlete: A 14-Day Plan for Optimal Mental Preparation.
Sports Specific Mental Training Tip
"Guys feed off enthusiasm and passion..."
Brett Favre believes passion and enthusiasm is one of the keys to his success and long career. He feeds off it and his team and fans feed off it as well...
“I have the same enthusiasm. I'll say this: As long as I'm out there, the enthusiasm and the passion that you see is real. I know guys feed off that and fans enjoy that because it's real and genuine. That you can't fake."
~Brett Favre, NFL
Podcasts of the Month
The Tennis Psychology Podcast of the Month!
In this week’s tennis psychology session, Dr. Cohn teaches you how to overcome prematch jitters. Many tennis players experience prematch jitters. This mental game of tennis podcast helps you use prematch jitters to your advantage.
- Show me the Tennis Psychology Podcast of the Month!
- Watch the Tennis Confidence Video series!
- Tennis Players & Coaches: Improve your mental game between points with this free report!
- Subscribe to the Tennis Psychology Podcast at iTunes!
The Golf Psychology Podcast of the Month!
Dr. Patrick Cohn, golf psychology expert and author of the "Golfer's Mental Edge" CD program, teaches amateur to tour professional golfers how to improve their mental game of golf. In this week's golf psychology session, Dr. Cohn helps a golfer who is thinking too much over the ball.
Pro Athlete Quote of the Month
"We have to fight to the end..."
"The game of football is 60 minutes. That's why the game is four quarters. No matter what the score is at halftime, we have to fight to the end. We try to play hard. That was the difference in the game."
~Anthony Hargrove, New Orleans Saints
Ask Doc Cohn
"Self-Talk for Low Self-Confidence"
Athlete:
If someone has low self-confidence in their sport, what kind of self-talk do you recommend?
Most Valuable Product (MVP)
Golfers Mental Edge: An 8-Week Plan for Ultimate Golf Confidence NEW!
Golfer's Mental Edge: An 8-Week Plan for Ultimate Golf Confidence. What's the one big sign that your mental game is the weak link in your golf game? When you can't play consistently as well as you can perform in practice! The “Golfer's Mental Edge Program” is a complete brain dump of the TOP eight mental training sessions Dr. Cohn teaches his personal students to help them boost their mental game and improve consistency on the course. In each of his 8 coaching sessions, you eavesdrop as Dr. Cohn teach four golfers his top mental strategies and learn right along side his students.
Read more about The Golfer's Mental Edge CD Program!
Peaksports Members get 25% off (save $100)! Not a peaksports member yet? Go demo our Online Mental Training System at Peaksports Network!
Dr. Patrick J. Cohn
Master Mental Game Coach
Boost Your Success with The Confident Athlete Series!
|
|||||
The
Confident Athlete Series by Peak Performance Sports brings
you the latest cutting-edge mental training strategies
in a practical step-by-step 14-day achievement plan. Each
program consists of 2 Audio CDs and an easy to
follow workbook to help you apply the mental strategies.
Perfect for any competitive athlete or team coach! Buy
All 4 Programs and Get "The Relaxed Athlete" FREE! |
Peaksports.com Quick Links
|
|
teamwork
:: confidence :: focus :: composure |
|
©
2009 Peak Performance Sports, LLC 7380 Sand Lake Rd. PMB 5012,
Orlando, Florida 32819. You
are receiving this email because you have requested Sports
Insights Magazine at Peaksports.com. |
|
