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