Why Mental Training?

What exactly is sport and exercise psychology? Simply stated, it is the study of the effect of psychological and emotional factors on sport & exercise, and the effect of sport & exercise involvement on the psyche & emotions of a person.

Mental training is the difference between performing well and peak performance, the difference between good athletes and athletes who excel. Let us take the example of Tiger Woods (before his personal issues affected his game) and Michael Jordan. A lot of us believe that Tiger and Michael both were born with the physical abilities required for Golf and Basketball, but the fact is that they not only have the physical ability but also the innate drive and desire to be the very best. To be the very best requires thousands of hours of physical practice and internal drive to excel. The drive to excel is what makes them mentally tough and work on their mental skills endlessly to help them through pressure situations. It helps them play in the present and give their 100% in practice and competition.

Today most coaches have turned to a mind-body approach to training as compared to the older regimen of just endless physical practice and skill building. Coaches and athletes have relied the importance of mental training and the effect it can have on their game. In Eastern European countries, coaches are initially trained in mental skills who subsequently make that a part of their sport training.

We often hear athletes say that they imagine the shot before they make it. What does that mean? That is a very powerful concept referred to as Imagery in the field of mental training. Imagery is something that is used by athletes subconciously as well as consciously.

So why mental training?  There are numerous reasons for professional and amateur athletes and performers to focus on mental training. Sport psychologists provide services not only to athletes but performers in the field of dance, music, theatre etc., as well as with executives who work in a constantly challenging work environment. Here are some of the reasons why people could use the services of a sport pyschologist:

• Improve self-confidence 
• Learning to psych up for every practice and competitive performance.
• Build mental toughness.
• Know how to get into the performance zone, with ease every time.
• Handle the mind games opponents launch at critical times.
• Reach new levels of performance.
• Transfer lessons learned in sport to the rest of their life.
• Deal with stress and control nerves while performing.
• Recover from performance slumps, set-backs and injuries.

Mental training, as we see benefits individual as well as group sports, elite and amateur atheletes, performers, executives, adults and children alike. Each week I shall be focusing on a different aspect of sport psychology and how one can use it to perform at their peak.