Sports Psychology

Sports psychology is about understanding the performance, mental processes, and well-being of people in sporting or competitive settings, taking into account psychological theory and methods.  Negative external or internal psychological factors can lead to mental blocks, causing breaks in focus and preparation, poor performance, and, at times, injuries to the athlete. They can produce physical disruptions such as muscle tightening, shaking, and increased perspiration.

It’s a good idea to help a child develop coping skills to deal with setbacks and errors. Emotional control is a prerequisite to getting into the zone. Athletes with very high and strict expectations have trouble dealing with minor errors that are a natural part of sports. It’s important to address expectations with your child and help athletes by staying composed yourself when they commit errors or become frustrated.

This incorporates everything on the mental side of sports. The overall aim of Sports Psychology is to help athletes enter the zone by developing foundational mental skills that can help athletes enter the zone more frequently. It’s impossible to play in the zone every day, but you can set the conditions for it to happen more often with a mental coach.  

There are three primary mental skills used by athletes that benefit their mindset while also enhancing performance:

1. 1. Goal setting: Goals aligned with performance goals, values, and cultural factors (football versus basketball values) increase the chance that a performer will reach personal goals.
   2. Arousal Regulation: Emotions “run high” before, during, and after performances. Breathing techniques and focus of attention are mental skills that benefit performers manage emotions and where their attention goes as they prepare for their event.
   3. Imagery: Skillfully visualizing what you want to complete during your performance increases the chance that a performer will have an optimal performance in line with the performer’s skill set, age level, and context.

The mantra stands true today: practice makes progress. This means the more you practice mental skills, the more likely to benefit from these cognitive skills “under pressure”. The brain changes quickly and when you practice skills that are necessary more often to be successful in your sport or performance.

The cost for mental skills training ranges depending on your state and where you live. Private pay is often the only way to cover mental skills training fees. Insurance cannot be used to cover fees for mental skills training. However, some sports psychologists and performance-informed therapists hold the view that mental challenges that performers experience often stem from other mental health challenges.