Leif H. Smith - Sports Psychology For Dummies

This book isn’t linear — you don’t have to read it from beginning to end, like a novel. Each chapter is self-contained, so you can start anywhere you want, and skip around as you like. You can use the table of contents and index to guide you, but here are a few suggestions for places to begin: If you’re new to sports psychology — you’ve only heard about it but you’ve never practiced any sports psychology techniques — start with Part 1for a good foundation. If you want to improve in a specific area, like focus or managing pressure, turn to the appropriate chapters in Part 2, where we discuss many mental tools that we have used in our work with athletes over the past 20-plus years. If you want to learn about the current trends and hot topics in sports psychology, then make Part 3your destination. If you’re looking for ways to improve your team’s performance, Part 4is for you. And if you’re a parent or coach who wants to use sports psychology to help the athletes in your life, or you want to become a better leader on your team, head to Part 5.

We hope you enjoy using this book to help you accomplish your goals. We also hope you share with us your success stories and accomplishments, and what you’ve found helpful in this book. Feel free to email us directly at DrSmith@personalbestconsulting.com and DrKays@athleticmindinstitute.com . You can also find us on YouTube, Instagram, and Twitter. Just search for our names and stay connected to keep learning how to use the concepts we teach in this book.

Part 1

IN THIS PART …

Get to know what sports psychology is and its overall application

Learn what your ideal mental profile is for maximum performance

Know and begin to apply the basics of effective goal setting

Understand motivation in sports and learn how to maximize your own

Learn what confidence really is and ways to build your swagger

Chapter 1

IN THIS CHAPTER

Knowing what sports psychology can do for you

Seeing your mind as a tool for success

Using sports psychology to prepare for competition

Understanding the hottest trends in sports psychology

Drawing on sports psychology tools as a coach

You’ve probably heard of elite athletes working with sports psychologists and pro teams having sports psychologists on staff. But what exactly is sports psychology, and is it limited to the pros?

Sports psychology is simply the practical application of psychological principles in a sports setting. It’s used to help an athlete or team improve their performance — and it absolutely isn’t limited to professional athletes. In fact, we’re seeing sports psychology used at all levels of sport. The field of sports psychology provides benefits and knowledge to youth, high school, and college athletes, as well as to coaches, parents, administrators, sports medicine physicians, strength and conditioning coaches, dietitians, and physical therapists. It’s used in the more popular sports — such as soccer, football, golf, and tennis — as well as in lesser-known ones — such as judo, snowboarding, fencing, and cricket. Sports psychology is even being used and applied in the non-sport realms, including medicine, education, business, politics, organizational development, and the military. Its benefits and uses are growing by leaps and bounds throughout the world. It’s an exciting time to be tapping into the benefits of sports psychology!

The good news is that you don’t have to pay hundreds or thousands of dollars to hire your own personal sports psychologist. With this book in your hands, you have an edge over other athletes and, most important, the ability to reach your highest potential.

The greatest tool that any athlete has is the mind. The brain — that wonderful organ that regulates your breathing, controls your beating heart, and manages the rest of your body — is at the core of all successful sports performances.

Everybody knows that talent and physical skill play an enormous role in every athlete’s success, but not many people understand the importance of the mind and how we use it. In fact, your mind is one of the most powerful pieces of sports equipment you’ll ever own. It can make or break you.

By understanding the power of your mind and being able to use it to your advantage, you can improve your performance. Sports psychology can help you to

Manage performance anxiety

Use visualization and imagery to improve your performance

Increase and maintain your confidence

Improve and maintain your level of motivation

Relax under pressure

Set and achieve goals

Manage your energy levels

Use routines to be consistent in your performance

Bounce back from injuries and setbacks

Manage and address conflicts with coaches and teammates

Focus in critical moments and extend the duration of your concentration

Manage stress and other mental health issues

Better communicate with others

Know yourself better

Your mind, which is the end product of all the wonderful thinking processes that occur in your physical brain, has a powerful impact on your sports performance. In fact, it has been having that powerful impact previously, even if you weren’t aware of it. Have you ever felt fear before a match, competition, or game? That’s your mind at work. Have you ever performed well, but unexpectedly? That was your mind at work also. Finally, have you ever achieved an important goal in your sport, even though it took a long time and a lot of hard work along the way? Once again, that came from the efforts of your mind.

Our mind influences our performance, both in and out of sport, and this book helps you understand how to affect changes in your mind that will produce amazing results in your performance. From setting goals ( Chapter 3) to building motivation and confidence ( Chapters 4and 5) to using powerful tools and techniques that professionals use ( Chapters 6- 12), you learn how to direct your mind to govern your body, heart, and attitude — all to produce the results you want in sports competition.

What is the ideal mindset for maximum performance in sport? Is there one? We (Leif and Todd) are asked this question all the time. Although performance is a combination of talent, circumstances, and effort, performing at your best can indeed become a habit. When you learn the ideal mindset for performing at your best, you can replicate it, over and over again.

Chapters 9and 10can help you get a jumpstart on your competition and start developing your ideal mindset.