Read the latest blogs and articles from sports coaches and other professionals with an interest in coaching, covering a wide variety of topics from skills development to fitness, tactics to mental performance.
Is mental toughness a resilient state of mind, or is a number of states - and about being in the right state at the right time?
Mental Toughness is a concept that has been given a lot of attention in sport psychology in the last few years. It tends to be associated with some kind of ability to cope with pressure, or resiliency. It is something that athletes, coaches and commentators seem to recognise, but seems to be quite difficult to pin down.
For triathletes, collecting telemetry received from devices during practice sessions and competition is nothing new. For example, today many competitors have computers attached to their bikes that display power/wattage, cadence, speed, and distance information helpful for improved efficient training and performance. Just like in cycling, there is now a technology that allows a swimmer to receive telemetry about their technique, and matched with mental training, can assist the tracking and training leading to improvement.
Have you noticed that the role of sport psychologist is a little more complex than simply teaching mental skills? Or that the relationship you build with athletes and coaches is critical? And have you found that your work also features complicated,or even uncomfortable emotions - both yours and your clients? This highly experiential workshop will help you create and maintain more effective and influential working relationships.
Staying on top of your health has a lot to do with what's going on outside of the gym. An important part of getting the most out of your workouts has to do with your overall mentality and motivation. Check out some of the best tips and fitspiration from leading coaches and trainers in the fitness industry, to shape up your overall approach to getting healthier, just in time for the holidays.
I'm astounded at what is clearly a reaction to hypnosis based on a complete ignorance of the facts. Firstly, to suggest that hypnosis detracts from the players being "who they are and what they are" and "It may give kids a mixed message if you can't do it on your own." is complete nonsense - if you're saying players shouldn't use mental training to improve at their sport, then surely they shouldn't be doing physical training either? According to this odd logic, getting the players fitter or bulking them up already suggests they can't do it on their own!
For years, sport science and motor control research has added support to the fundamental assertions that "practice makes perfect" and "repetition is the mother of habit". However, many questions still exist as to exactly how we learn these skills. What changes happen in our brains when we teach ourselves a new task? What is the most effective and efficient way to master a skill? Do we have to be actually performing the skill to learn it, or could we just watch and learn?