In the 2013 Stanley Cup Playoffs there is always talk about resiliency and the necessity of this tangible attribute in order to succeed. What makes resliency more of a psychological component to success is the fact that it is difficult to measure (as is the case with most psychological componenets of sport). Resiliency in sport […]
Successful performance in elite football does not usually show itself until the early 20s due to unpredictable factors during a player’s development, particularly the effect that the growth spurt (puberty) will have on them physically and psychologically (although there have been some prodigies to prove the exception (e.g. Wayne Rooney or Michael Owen). However, it […]
Athletic identity is the degree to which an individual identifies with the athlete role and looks to others for acknowledgement of that role (Brewer, Van Raalte, & Linder, 1993). It is a type of self-schema or how an individual perceives themselves. By participating in a sport, an individual is making a social statement about who […]
I think that it is fair to say that a team is far more than a collection of athletes. The term ‘cohesion’ is often used to describe a team that works together towards a common performance goal. A truly cohesive team becomes more than just individuals, and their performance equates to more than they could […]
Recently, I was fortunate enough to be on a skiing vacation in Austria, and it was within this majestic setting that I found the inspiration to write a small piece on what I believe is a fundamental psychological element of performance, or lack thereof. The element of FEAR. Anyone who has been on a skiing […]
Another September is upon on us and for most athletes that means it is time to head back to school. Last month I had discussed the importance of confidence keys and understanding the fact that you are more than an athlete. Therefore I think it is important to discuss getting back in the routine for […]
Clubs are a vital part of sports such as Football and Hockey where a team is vital in order to train and compete, but training for individual sports, such as Running or Golf can be a lonely task. The obvious answer is to join a club, but for some a club is not available or […]
One common aspect in developing our culture of excellence is the concept of hardiness and handling adversity. Hardiness revolves around how a person perceives their environment especially as it relates to the three C’s (commitment, control and challenge) when dealing with adversity. A major aspect of the season is the ability for athletes or organizations […]
Here’s a taster from my book aimed specifically at MMA, but applicable to ALL sports: Foreword Sport psychology has been around in a serious form for only about the last 30 years. As a science it is still very much in its infancy. Sport psychologists are at the stage where we know what works, but […]
This article will focus on the emerging practice of mindfulness within the sporting environment. An overview of what mindfulness is and how it can help athletes will be outlined. Some tools that athletes can use to practice being mindful also are provided. Studies that support the theory will also be explored and a conclusion will […]