| Are you or your players afraid other athletes will see | | | | sports psychology more than others. In golf, tennis, |
| you as weak if you have to do mental training or | | | | and baseball, for example, athletes accept mental |
| work with a sports psychologist? Still today, athletes | | | | training as another type of performance |
| buy into myths about sports psychology, which | | | | enhancement. In addition, many professional athletes |
| prevent them from embracing the benefits of mental | | | | attribute their success to mental toughness including |
| training. I recently received an email from a young | | | | golfer Tiger Woods, NASCAR driver Jeff Burton, and |
| hockey player getting ready for try outs. This | | | | basketball player Michael Jordan.... |
| hockey player states: | | | | "The most important attribute a soccer player must |
| "I have friends who perform better than me and | | | | have is mental toughness. Before you can win, you |
| they don't read any mental training books. Every time | | | | must have the will to prepare to win." |
| I open my mental training book I feel no motivation | | | | ~Mia Hamm |
| to read because better athletes don't do anything to | | | | Lastly, if you or your athletes worry that others |
| mentally prepare themselves. I feel that I'm weak by | | | | think you’re weak (if you do mental training) |
| being probably the only guy going to try-outs that | | | | spend too much time thinking about how others view |
| reads mental training books. I have only heard of a | | | | you. You can't worry about what others think about |
| very few great athletes that do mental preparation." | | | | your training or your game. If this is you, you’re |
| When I receive these emails from athletes, I'm | | | | great candidates for mental training! With mental |
| surprised that people still view mental training or | | | | training, you can learn to “tune out” worries |
| sports psychology as a weakness and thus think | | | | about what others think of you and focus on |
| they are inferior because they need to do mental | | | | what’s most important—playing the game and |
| training. Unfortunately, a few athletes still buy into | | | | performing your best. |
| myths about sports psychology and thus shy away. | | | | Athletes are more likely to embrace mental training |
| This is an interesting--and misguided--conception | | | | when they understand it and its benefits. However, |
| about the value of sports psychology. | | | | the best way for athletes to buy into mental training |
| One of the hallmarks of great athletes is their | | | | is when they actually experience its power firsthand. |
| interest in improving themselves. That doesn’t | | | | Sports psychology or mental training helps athletes |
| just apply to their physical skills; it applies to their | | | | perform more consistently, find the zone more often, |
| mental game, as well. There’s nothing weak, | | | | keep a winning streak alive, and learn how to think |
| wimpy or sissy-like about being willing and eager to | | | | well under pressure. |
| improve oneself and one’s performance. | | | | Contact me at Peak Performance Sports to learn |
| I do think that some athletes are naturally more | | | | more about how to become mentally tough. Ask for |
| talented than others and confidence comes easily for | | | | "one-page mental toughness exam" to see if you can |
| them. Other athletes have to work harder in sports | | | | benefit from mental training. |
| to keep up and they might not develop the | | | | I love to work with athletes and teams in person. |
| confidence they need to be fully confident. In any | | | | However, another excellent option is The Confident |
| case, athletes at all levels are using mental training | | | | Athlete Series CD and workbook programs to |
| and sports psychology to become better athletes--no | | | | improve confidence, composure, focus, pregame |
| matter if they are in a slump or trying to keep a | | | | mental preparation, and perform fearlessly in |
| winning streak alive. | | | | competition! |
| I also know that athletes in some sports embrace | | | | |