General (25)
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
After playing elite level soccer for most of my life there seemed to be an undoubtedly significant factor that I witnessed which separated the better from the best. So far as technical skill, well, save for the Michael Jordans and Lionel Messis even Nadals, professional elite level sports are all but equal. However, aside from the resources that athletes use beyond the weight room and after the fitness programs are finished, there is yet another factor; the mental game.
I first encountered sport psychology in the Men’s Varsity Soccer program at Azusa Pacific University. The year my team won the 2007 NAIA National Championship was the first time I was introduced to goal setting. The first time I ever heard of a SMART goal I was sitting with a group of 24 teammates on the eve of training camp.
Since that summer evening nearly five years ago I have received my Bachelors degree in Sport Psychology, I am interning with the Sport Psychology Institute Northwest, had professional soccer experience, and currently I am currently working on my Masters in Sport Psychology at John F. Kennedy University. Through my experience in athletics I understand the importance of mental skills and the significance of properly applying mental skills techniques. Whether it is teaching situational-anxious athletes how to use imagery to build confidence or teaching a softball team how team cohesion and group dynamics. The role of a mental coach for individual based sports such as tennis, are critical in maximizing optimal performance.
My long-term goal is to be a licensed Sport Psychologist, working with every type of athlete of all levels and ages. My short-term goals are to complete my Master’s work, receive my Nutrition and Exercise Performance Certificate, and complete the Association for Applied Sport Psychology membership.
Book Review: Play Big Baseball by Dr. Tom Hanson
Written by Brian BaxterThe follow up to his Heads Up Baseball is a unique sport psychology book. In the spirit of Dan Millman’s Way of the Peaceful Warrior, Play Big Baseball is a story about a young baseball player and a mysterious mentor who teaches him how to “play big.” Dr. Hanson does a really good job of explaining the mental game in a language that anyone can understand.
Buy Play Big Baseball from the SpinW webstore
Summer is here and for sports that means a lot of endings. European soccer culminated with a splendid display by Barcelona in the Champions League Final, the NHL and NBA finals are wrapping up, college and high school baseball and lacrosse are heading into the post-season. And oh yeah, if you are a student or teacher, school is coming to a close.
At SPINw we’ve been talking a lot about the new beginnings that happen when seasons end. In preseason there is a plan. There is excitement and focus and endless possibilities for the upcoming season. During the season athletes and teams train and fine-tune tune their games, and of course, compete. Those in the post season hope to peak and perform at the maximum level.
But, as you are heading into a break from your sport, what is your game plan? The off-season is in many ways, just as important as the pre- or post seasons. We have a couple suggestions to maximize your off-season:
-Rest: Most sports are year-round these days, and rest can’t be neglected. Make sure that you schedule some rest and relaxation, and stick to it!
-Review: Take some time to reflect on the season. Did you accomplish your goals? Did you improve? If so, how did you do it? Are there moments you wish you had back? Are there moments you’ll always remember?
-Recover: It’s time to heal those injuries, whether major or just minor nagging injuries.
-Renew: After resting and reviewing, and while recovering, it’s time to start looking forward again, at least mentally. It’s time to renew your commitment to the game, the team, and yourself.
Michael Jordan was famous for adding a new piece to his game every summer: three point shooting, spin moves, fade away jumpers, to name a few. He used the off-season to keep his competitive edge and continually distance himself from his opponents. What do you want to add to your game? What are your goals for the off-season?
Not only can you add a new physical skill: speed, agility, technique, a new move, etc, but you might also want to consider adding to your mental game: build your confidence, control your emotions, improve your leadership, or learn how to use visualization to enhance performance.
At SPINw we can help whether it’s getting you out of a slump, building confidence after an injury, or just helping give you an extra edge. Contact us today to ask how.
Speaking of basketball season ending and Michael Jordan, one of the NBAs all-time great coaches, Phil Jackson, is retiring this year after 20 years and 11 NBA titles. He’s also written six books, and Sacred Hoops is one of my favorites.
There is a lot of the mental game in his approach: team building, focus and concentration, visualization, among others. In Sacred Hoops, Jackson describes his life growing up, his NBA playing career, and his coaching career (through the 1994 season). The opening statement from the book:
“This book is about a vision and a dream. When I was named the head coach of the Chicago Culls in 1989, my dream was not just to win championships, but to do it in a way that wove together my two greatest passions: basketball and spiritual exploration. On the surface, this may sound like a crazy idea, but I sensed that there was a link between spirit and sport.”
This is a great book. If you are a coach, it will definitely give you some ideas to expand your effectiveness as a coach getting players to play together. If you are a player, you will get some good insights and a new perspective on the mental side of the game. And if you’re a fan, there’s some really cool behind-the-scenes stories about Pippen, Jordan, and the rest of that Bulls dynasty of the 1990s.
As Jackson’s career comes to an end, his legacy is just beginning.
Whether a recreational or competitive athlete, maintaining fitness during pregnancy and returning to sport post-pregnancy has its challenges. Some competitive athletes plan their pregnancies based on their schedules. They try to time their pregnancies. Kara Goucher was very vocal about the window of time she would try to get pregnant. She even stated after a certain point they would stop trying so it would not affect her focus on making it to the 2012 Olympic Games. Timing was on her side and now, a few months after giving birth, she is beginning to build up her training. This is not an easy task!!
During pregnancy, physical abilities are inconsistent. One day an athlete may perform just fine, and the next consists of a workout full of struggles. An athlete may begin to question themselves, and might wonder if they’ve lost their abilities forever. Self-confidence turns into self-doubt. Self-talk is not motivating. Common sense may occasionally remind one that pregnancy poses a lot of physical demands on the body, BUT that doesn’t always help. Thank you hormones!
So how do those professional athletes make their comebacks? How do they maintain their self-confidence? How do they keep their self-talk positive and constructive? Well, they rely on a STRONG SUPPORT SYSTEM, which can include family, friends, coaches, teammates, and SPORT PSYCHOLOGY PROFESSIONALS.
If you are going through a life changing moment, pregnancy or otherwise, add to your support system. Contact This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it to see how we can help!
About the Author: Lisa Peetz received an M.A. in Sports and Exercise Psychology. Lisa is an avid runner who appreciates and is addicted to marathon running. She uses her athletic experience in her mental skills training by individualizing skills to be both sports and life specific.
MythBusters: Sport Psychology Edition - Part 3 of 3
Written by Brian BaxterMyth #3 – Sport Psychology Is A Quick Fix
A lot of my work is with high school and collegiate aged athletes. This is a common question from parents of these athletes: “My son/daughter has state team/select team tryouts tomorrow and is nervous – can you help?”
Sport psychology consulting is great for areas like this; however, one session is probably not going to fix it. It is a process to find the obstacles that are keeping the athlete from performing at their top level and introducing strategies to remove those obstacles. Some of those strategies are:
- Goal setting
- Visualization
- Positive Self-Talk
- Focus
Learning these skills and making them second nature is not a quick fix, but a process. Building skills, especially those that are worthwhile, is rarely easy. But with a little commitment, these skills become engrained and last a lifetime, not only in sports but other areas of life.
So now that I have de-bunked the myths, here is the truth: Sport psychology is a useful tool for everyone. Sport psychology is for athletes who care and want to perform at their peak level on a more consistent basis. Sport psychology is a long-term solution for improving and enjoying sports for a lifetime!
Please contact Sport Psychology Institute Northwest to get started with one of our experienced consultants.
About the Author: Brian Baxter received an M.A. in Sports Psychology. He teaches individuals how to identify and build awareness of their difficulties, their areas of improvement and their strengths and implements strategies to make the process second nature.
Take a listen below.
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!