Vlog: Fun is a Mental Tool
In my 11th of 12 vlog segments devoted to the psychology of sport for athletes and coaches, I explain why fun is a powerful mental tool that is under utilized by athletes and coaches alike. In fact, when I ask the athletes with whom I work what is the most important contributor to their success, […]
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Regret is the Worst Emotion in Sports
Over the last few decades, I have worked with many athletes, from juniors to Olympians and professionals. The most powerful work I do with athletes isn’t your typical mental training where I teach them about positive thinking, mental imagery, routines, and how to stay intense and focused (though these mental tools are important). Instead, the […]
Read MoreVlog: Mental Imagery is Your Most Powerful Mental Tool
As I noted in my most recent blog post, Olympians use imagery as a tool to help them prepare themselves mentally to perform their best. In my ninth of 12 vlog segments devoted to athletes and coaches, I describe what mental imagery is (here’s a hint: It’s not just picturing yourself performing in your mind’s […]
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Mentally Preparing for Olympic Sports Success
I’m fortunate to be working with a handful of athletes from several countries preparing to compete in the 2018 Winter Olympic Games in Pyeongchang, South Korea this month. It is an honor and a privilege to work with such remarkable athletes and to do my part in helping them to achieve their sports dreams and […]
Read MoreMentally Preparing for Olympic Ski Racing Success
I’m fortunate to be working with a handful of ski racers from several countries preparing to compete in the 2018 Winter Olympic Games in Pyeongchang, South Korea this month. It is an honor and a privilege to work with such remarkable athletes and to do my part in helping them to achieve their ski racing […]
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Vlog: Do with Other Sport Parents
In this final segment of my eight-part vlog series on sport parenting, we shift our focus onto what you can do with other sport parents to ensure a healthy athletic experience for your children. There is little doubt that you as a parent have an immense impact on your children’s sports involvement. At the same […]
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Psychology of Tryouts: Part I
Note: This is the first in a series of four articles that explore the psychology of tryouts that I recently published on YSPN360.com, a great new website and organization whose values about youth sports align with mine. Subsequent articles in the series will look at what young athletes can do to mentally prepare for tryouts; what […]
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Great Sports Performance is About Feelings
One of the greatest strengths of the athletes I work with, whether a junior, collegian, Olympian, or pro, is their intelligence. Their ability to explore, understand, analyze, critique, and find answers and solutions is an essential tool that helps them pursue their goals. At the same time, one of the greatest weaknesses that holds them […]
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In Sports, You Need to Fight from Start to Finish
I have a lot of pet peeves when it comes to young athletes in their training and competitive efforts. For example, it drives me crazy to see athletes not prepare themselves fully for a practice session (but you can’t do that in a competition!). Or, young athletes standing around and chatting it up before drills […]
Read MoreVlog: Break the Chain of Frustration
In my seventh of 12 vlog segments devoted to athletes and coaches, I examine the impact that frustration has on athletes in their training and competitive efforts. Frustration is typically defined an emotional reaction that arises when the path toward a goal is blocked and can’t be readily cleared. Common sources of frustration for athletes […]
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