How Sports Psychology Can Improve Your Athletic Performance
Overview
Working with a sports psychologist and applying the mental skills techniques to win.
By Geoff Greenwood FCCA MBA MSc - 5 minute read
Introduction to psychology in sports
Sports psychology is a growing field for amateur and professional athletes that focuses on understanding the mental factors that influence athletic performance and using psychological techniques to enhance sport skills, motivation and overall enjoyment of sports.
Implementing the principles of sports psychology can give athletes of all levels an edge over the competition. This article will provide an overview of how working with a sports psychologist can take your athletic abilities to the next level.
Sports psychology is the pursuit of excellence.
The Role of Sports Psychologists
Let's consider what a sports psychologist does. Sports psychologists are professionals who study the psychological components of sports, athletic performance and physical activity. Some of the services a sports psychologist can provide include:
Mental skills training - Helping athletes improve focus, confidence, concentration, motivation and composure under pressure.
Performance enhancement - Working with athletes before competition to build self-confidence, manage anxiety and implement mental rehearsal techniques.
Injury recovery - Assisting injured athletes with motivation, adherence to rehab and managing stress/emotions regarding recovery.
Communication skills - Improving coach-player relationships and team cohesion.
Eating disorder treatment - Identifying and overcoming unhealthy eating patterns among athletes.
Counselling services - Helping athletes deal with stresses relating to their sport.
The overall goals are to make sports participation more enjoyable, teach mental skills that boost performance, and aid athletes in reaching their full potential.
The athlete who develops their mind has a competitive edge.
Benefits of Working with a Sports Psychologist
I always like to focus here on the positives and here are some of the main ways that collaborating with a sports psychologist can improve your performance and enjoyment of your sport:
Enhanced Focus and Concentration
Staying focused is a crucial mental skill across all sports and athletic activities. Sports psychologists can teach athletes techniques to improve their attentional control and their ability to block out distractions. This includes learning how to get into an ideal performance state through visualisation, imagery, relaxation techniques and focusing cues. Enhanced concentration leads to better decision-making, execution of sport skills and consistency.
Increased Motivation and Self-Confidence
Sports psychologists help athletes set personalised goals, manage expectations, overcome fear of failure and maintain high levels of motivation. Developing mental toughness, resilience and a positive yet realistic self-image are also important psychological skills. Athletes who are motivated and believe in their abilities tend to have more energy, cope better with challenges and demonstrate greater perseverance.
Decreased Anxiety and Optimal Arousal
Anxiety can hurt performance by causing muscle tension, distraction and loss of focus. Sports psychologists teach strategies to manage anxiety such as positive self-talk, mental imagery, mindfulness and centring techniques. They also help each athlete find their optimal level of arousal to avoid under or over-arousal before competition.
Improved Communication and Team Cohesion
For team sports, sports psychologists can foster better communication between teammates and coaches. This includes resolving interpersonal conflicts, reducing social anxiety, promoting cooperation and getting everyone working together towards shared goals. Improved team cohesion leads to higher morale, greater trust and overall better teamwork.
Enhanced Resilience and Grit
Sports psychologists emphasise developing mental toughness, resilience and the willingness to push past discomfort. Using techniques like positive self-talk, stress management, mental rehearsal and mindfulness, athletes learn to stay determined and persevere through challenges. This grit and refusal to quit ultimately breeds success in sports.
Faster Injury Rehabilitation
The psychological impact of sports injuries can be as difficult to overcome as the physical impairment. Sports psychologists provide counselling and mental skills to help injured athletes cope with emotions, maintain motivation and adherence during rehab and rebuild confidence to return to pre-injury performance levels.
Examples of Mental Skills and Techniques
Sports psychologists draw upon a variety of techniques and mental skills to improve performance. Here are some examples of my work:
Victory needs a stress free, calm and focused mind.
Goal Setting
Setting specific yet flexible goals provides direction and motivation. Goals should be process-oriented and within the athlete's control. Examples include reducing reaction time, increasing free throw percentage or improving footwork.
Arousal Regulation
Controlling arousal levels prevents under or over-arousal. Techniques include progressive muscle relaxation, meditative breathing, positive self-talk and mental imagery.
Mental Rehearsal
Visualising successful execution of skills and strategies in the mind enhances coordination and confidence. This can be done regularly to ingrain proper technique.
Mindfulness Training
Practicing mindfulness teaches athletes to stay focused in the present moment. This promotes concentration, reduces distraction and helps manage competitive anxiety.
Cognitive Restructuring
Identifying and replacing irrational, self-defeating thoughts with positive, empowering beliefs. This enhances self-confidence and resilience.
Pre-Performance Routines
Routines before competition like visualisation, listening to music, re-tying shoes or other habitual rituals can get athletes in an ideal performance state.
Self-Talk
Athletes can learn to carry on an inner dialogue of positive affirmations, focus cues and encouragement to build confidence and block negative thinking..
How to Start Working with a Sports Psychologist
- If you want to begin working with a sports psychologist to take your game to the next level, here are some tips:
- Ask your coach, trainer or team doctor for referrals to sports psychologists they recommend, or call me.
- Search online directories through organisations like the Association for Applied Sport Psychology.
- Look for someone with expertise in your sport - e.g. a sports psychologist who works with runners or tennis players.
- Schedule a consultation to ensure the sports psychologist seems like a good fit for you and your goals.
- At your first session, discuss your objectives, challenges impacting performance, and what you hope to achieve.
- Be open about your struggles so the sports psychologist can make an accurate assessment and tailor techniques to your needs.
- Commit to regular sessions and be willing to practice new mental skills between meetings.
- View sessions as mental training to build your psychological fitness and athletic abilities.
Sports psychology enhances mental health and wellbeing.
The Sky's the Limit
So in summary, working with a qualified sports psychologist or sports psychology consultant provides athletes with the mental tools and performance enhancement techniques required to excel. The mind is a powerful thing - strengthening it through sports psychology allows you to maximise your physical talents and reach heights you never thought possible. Whether you want to improve focus, manage competitive anxiety or simply get more enjoyment out of your sport, the expertise of a sports psychologist can help you achieve your athletic dreams.
What to do now
- Would you like to accelerate your transformation from an athlete who is unplaced to one that gives themselves the very best chance of success?
- Do you need to really fast track your progress and stop losing?
- Then you can work with me. By joining our membership you will give yourself the very best opportunity of success. No learning curve, no delays and no problems
We have differing levels of membership that suit all pockets and styles.
Free Membership: Free Mental Skills Newsletter, Access to Public Content, Special Offers & Discounts and Ask our Coach a Question. This is a great introduction allowing you to read around the whole subject matter.
Bronze Membership: All Free Benefits, Sport Psychology Video Program, Email Consultation with Coach and Your Story Published. This is a step up for those ready to make the move and getting started.
Silver Membership: All Bronze Benefits, Mental Skills Power Video Program, Huge Content Discounts and Standard Email Support. This is for those that have started and want to see improvements
Gold Membership: All Silver Benefits, New Weekly Content of skills and techniques, Gold Members Webinars and Priority Email Support. This is for those who have learned and applied the techniques from our online training programs and want extra competitive advantages.
Platinum Membership: All Gold Benefits, Mental Toughness Assessment, Personal Coaching with Geoff and a Personal Plan and Support. This program is for the fast trackers amongst you. Working with me to devise your plan, strategies, benchmark and ongoing monitoring and improvement.
Winners Only.
Geoff Greenwood FCCA MBA MSc
Thank you and see you soon.