Athletes And Social Approval One big challenge for many athletes today is the fact that they worry so much about what others think when they perform that it becomes a huge distraction. I must first say that it is important to care about other people. However it becomes unhealthy when athletes worry too much about what others think … Sport Psychology Article…
Why You Should Avoid Negative Self-Talk I recently worked with a high school athlete who was plagued by those nasty inner gremlins. You know the type “ that little guy or gal inside your head what would not shut up and kept asking irrelevant questions. This kept my student from developing confidence and playing to his full potential. … Sport Psychology Article…
What is Wrong With The Fear of Failure? One of my mental coaching students, Joe (not his real name) had a unique gift (or so he thought). Since he was overly concerned with what other people thought (coach, teammates, parents, spectators, etc.) about his performance, he often engaged in a process I call mind reading when performing. While … Sport Psychology Article…
Embrace The Pregame Jitters Do you ever get butterflies in your stomach before you compete called pregame jitters? Do you get really nervous before the start of a big match or game and can’t relax after the game starts? Most athletes have felt the negative effects of pressure during their athletic career. Even the best athletes feel pressure … Sport Psychology Article…
How to Apply Mental Toughness to Your Game Sports psychology experts often talk about the importance of learning mental toughness to improve your performance. However, my 15 years of teaching the mental game to students makes me think that understanding mental toughness skills is not the whole enchilada. To be successful with mental toughness training, athletes must learn … Sport Psychology Article…
The Importance of Self-Confidence Sports self-confidence is the number one mental skill that your young athlete must possess to be successful in sports and life! Self-doubt is the number one mental barrier that blocks athletes from success in sports and life. Having high levels of confidence is so important that I spend most of my time teaching students … Sport Psychology Article…