Administrator
Tuesday, 21 February 2012 11:24
The Wide World of Sport Psychology
Brian Baxter, Elliott Waksman, Jimmy Yoo and Michael Wilson
Sport Psychology has been steadily gaining recognition over the past decade. And while the sports world generally knows of sport psychology, the majority still don’t know what it is we do. In this issue of the SPINw e-newletter, we’ll give you some highlights of who we work with, what we do, and more from the wide world of sport psychology. Enjoy!
What sports have you worked with at SPINw?
Soccer, Football, Baseball, Softball, Basketball, Hockey, Volleyball, Lacrosse, Golf, Tennis, Track, Wrestling, Cross Country, Marathon, Swimming, Cyclo-cross, Skiing, Snowboarding, Horseback Riding, Mixed Martial Arts, Motocross, Competitive Cheer, Dog Agility, Competitive Poker, Triathalon
What level of competition are your athletes and teams?
Professional, Collegiate, Competitive Club Sport, High School, Recreational, Olympic hopeful
What is the population of your athletes?
Age Range - 10 - 55
Average Age - 17
Male or Female - 50/50 split
What are the most common reasons for coming to see a sport psychology consultant?
-Dealing with anxiety or pressure to perform
-Loss of confidence
-Not enjoying playing
-Trouble controlling emotions
-Better in practice than competition
-Want to get to the next level-Recovering from injury
-Team building
Published in
General
Tuesday, 21 February 2012 11:22
SPINw Workshop with Skating Club of Oregon
This month, the SPINw team presented a sport psychology workshop to the members of the Skating Club of Oregon (SCORE). Ice skaters can spend up to 650 hours a year training for only 42 minutes of competition! So the pressure these young athletes face can be immense. SPINw consultants Brian Baxter, Elliott Waksman, and Jimmy Yoo worked with the parents, skaters, and coaches, respectively, to address the mental aspects of skating under pressure.
To have SPINw put on a workshop for your organization, call us at 1-866-300-1515.
Published in
Mental Game Training
Tuesday, 21 February 2012 11:04
Book Review: The Boys from Little Mexico
In the mold of Friday Night Lights, Steve Wilson’s The Boys from Little Mexico is one of those sports books that I finished in a couple days. It follows the all-latino Woodburn High School (just down I-5 from SPINw) soccer team through their 2005 season. The book goes back and forth between describing the season, the players and coaches, the history of the town to give a full picture of the school, the team, and it’s community of players, coaches, and role models.
The sport psychology and the mental side of the game is a theme of this book. The coaches consistently talk about the fact that the players’ belief in themselves does not match their high level of skill. You can see it in the players’ comments and thoughts, too. Will they find the confidence and that extra edge they need to finally win it all? Check out the book to find out!
Check out The Boys from Little Mexico in the SPINw webstore.
The sport psychology and the mental side of the game is a theme of this book. The coaches consistently talk about the fact that the players’ belief in themselves does not match their high level of skill. You can see it in the players’ comments and thoughts, too. Will they find the confidence and that extra edge they need to finally win it all? Check out the book to find out!
Check out The Boys from Little Mexico in the SPINw webstore.
Published in
Confidence
Monday, 19 December 2011 16:23
Brian Baxter spoken about on Talk Timbers with John Strong
Listen to John Strong's interview with Portland Timbers Academy director Mike Smith on Talk Timbers, where they talk about Brian Baxter's work with the program.
Talk Timbers with John Strong, Dec. 13, 2011 by user5789689
Talk Timbers with John Strong, Dec. 13, 2011 by user5789689
Published in
Preparation
Saturday, 17 September 2011 11:18
SPINw Welcomes Elliott Waksman
SPINw welcomes our newest consultant, Elliott Waksman.
As a Wildcat at the University of Arizona, Elliott was first introduced to the field of sport psychology through Dr. Jean Williams, past president of the Association of Applied Sport Psychology (AASP) and top-selling author. Connecting issues, such as confidence and mental toughness, to his personal sport experiences immediately sparked his interest.
Born and raised in Portland, Elliott was a recognized Portland Interscholastic League three-sport athlete. He often incorporates both his personal sport experiences and sense of humor in his mental training sessions.
A message from Elliot:
Listen up Cross Country, Football, Soccer, and Volleyball players out there!??
“Without goals you are like a ship without a rudder – heading in no particular direction" - Coach Roy Williams
Goal setting is the first step towards your best Fall season yet! If you think goals are only for weight loss, think again. Michael Phelps and LeBron James are two excellent examples of athletes who understand and apply goal setting to the mental game. Have you ever set a S.M.A.R.T. goal? Do you know what process goals are? Do you know what an outcome goal is? Contact Elliott Waksman, MA today for that extra edge heading into your Fall season.
Learn more about Elliott here.
Published in
Mental Game Training
Friday, 12 November 2010 13:27
Brian Baxter on 95.5 The Game
Sport Psychology Institute Northwest consultant Brian Baxter appeared on the John Lund Show on 95.5 The Game today, discussing the mental state of Greg Oden and Brandon Roy, and the psychological impact of home field advantage for the California Golden Bears.
Take a listen below.
Take a listen below.
Published in
General
Friday, 12 November 2010 13:17
SPINW Facebook Promotion
In an effort to expand the SPINW name, we have a challenge for you and your online network to help us in our quest, with a special offer to those who help!
We hope to build our Facebook page to 300 fans by January 1st, 2011, and if we succeed, will offer 15% off a mental game consultation to the first 10 people to book a session by March 1st.
In addition, one grand prize winner will receive a coupon for one free session with one of our consultants.
All you have to do is click "like" and tell your friends to like us as well. If you are among the first 300 people to become a fan, your name will be entered into a random drawing for the 15% off coupon and the grand prize free session. But, we must reach our goal by the new year, so become a fan today!
We hope to build our Facebook page to 300 fans by January 1st, 2011, and if we succeed, will offer 15% off a mental game consultation to the first 10 people to book a session by March 1st.
In addition, one grand prize winner will receive a coupon for one free session with one of our consultants.
All you have to do is click "like" and tell your friends to like us as well. If you are among the first 300 people to become a fan, your name will be entered into a random drawing for the 15% off coupon and the grand prize free session. But, we must reach our goal by the new year, so become a fan today!
Published in
General
Friday, 12 November 2010 13:14
SPINW Now Offering Skype Sessions
The Sport Psychology Institute Northwest is now offering sessions online with Skype. Skype is an easy, convenient, and confidential alternative to face-to-face consultations. Skype sessions are effective and provide access to our consultants at anytime, from anywhere, to fit your busy schedule. If you are interested in setting up an online session, e-mail us at
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
to set up a free 15 minute consultation and to learn about our special rates, and add the username "SportPsychologyInstituteNW" to your contact list.
Published in
General
Sunday, 24 October 2010 11:30
Putting Foot to the Ball Can Often Be a Test of Will
Matt Dodge, the Giants' seventh-round draft choice, has struggled at times this season in his attempt to effectively replace the former punter, Jeff Feagles. read more
Published in
Perform Under Pressure
Thursday, 31 January 2008 09:06
Webinars
New from SPINW!
SPINW's next mental game webinar is Sunday, March 16th at 7 pm. Keep checking ourwebsite, spinw.com, and this blog for more information, or email us at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . Sign up for the course at our website or by emailing This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .
SPINW's next mental game webinar is Sunday, March 16th at 7 pm. Keep checking ourwebsite, spinw.com, and this blog for more information, or email us at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . Sign up for the course at our website or by emailing This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .
Published in
General