In Chapter 8 of Psyched to Win Dr. Nideffer refers to “Centering” as a technique, borrowed from the martial arts, whose purpose is to instill feelings of emotional control. These simple breathing and cueing exercises are used to calm and relax both the mind and body. Center of Mass Your Center of Mass is located one or two inches below and behind your navel. If one can consciously bring one’s attention to this point, one feels grounded or centered. In Dr. Nideffer’s article for class, he describes the importance of keeping a balanced, stable lower center of mass. This Sports Psychology Article
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07
May
2013
Centering Techniques for Sports
06
May
2013
Intramural Sports: The Benefits of Imagery
What thoughts come to mind when I mention college intramural sports? I am sure that most of you would say that intramural sports are for the scrubs or the wannabes. Others may also argue that intramural sports lack the competitive nature and consistent training that most college and professional sports have. However, I can contend for the opposite to be true. During my college intramural sports career thus far, I have watched and competed against several intramural athletes that are not the typical wannabes or scrubs that most would think. The truth of the matter is that intramural sports Sports Psychology Article
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02
May
2013
Hitters Need a Plan at the Plate
Becoming a successful hitter requires more than a quick bat and good hand eye coordination. It requires a specific approach to hitting and confidence in your ability to put the ball in play. The key to success at the plate is mental toughness and mental preparation. Great hitters do not have the same batting stance, physical talent or mechanics. What they do have in common is a plan at the plate and a strong belief in their ability to carry out that plan. One thing many hitters lack is an at-bat routine. Great hitters use at-bat routines to help Sports Psychology Article
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13
Apr
2013
Follow SportPsychologyToday.com On Twitter
For daily tips on the mental game of sports follow us on Twitter @thezoneinsports
Read moreWhen people talk about baseball they usually mention the physical aspects of the sport such as, hitting, arm-strength, and power. The primary focus of athletes in the past has been to improve their physical game to compete at a higher level. The physical component of the game is so emphasized that a good handful of professional ball players began using illegal performance enhancement supplements to gain a competitive edge. The physical component of baseball is important, but it’s also highly overrated, especially in higher levels of competition. I say this because all professional ball players have the physical tools Sports Psychology Article
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18
Jan
2013
The Rise of Kronum
A new sports craze has taken over South Eastern Pennsylvania and its popularity continues to grow in the United States and Europe. Kronum was invented in 2008 at Villanova University in Pennsylvania. It combines the physical and mental elements of various sports such as: soccer, basketball, rugby, football and handball. In only a few years the Kronum has reached the high school, college, and professional level with its slogan “Join the Revolution.” Kronum is played by two teams, each with 10 players on the field at all times. The game is fast-paced because possessions can change quickly, and players Sports Psychology Article
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21
Dec
2012
Sport Psychology and Mental Training
Sports Psychology is about improving your attitude and mental toughness to help you perform your best by identifying limiting beliefs and embracing a healthier philosophy about your sport. Mental training is used by elite athletes to help improve focus, confidence and deal with distractions. Many athletes have the ability to concentrate, but often their focus is displaced on the wrong areas such as when a batter thinks “I need to get a hit” while in the batter’s box, which is a result-oriented focus. Much of my instruction on focus deals with helping athlete to stay focused on the present Sports Psychology Article
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19
Dec
2012
Mental Training and Performance Enhancement
For some athletes, mental training is an untouched avenue to improve sports performance. Many athletes do not understand mental training and may be skeptical about its value.Even if you as a parent understand the importance of mental toughness in your young athletes, your kids might resist it. If kids do not “buy in” to mental training, they will not reap the benefits it provides. We teach sports parents and coaches how to encourage their kids to have a strong mental game. Many athletes don’t realize that resources are available to improve their mental game. When under performing or in Sports Psychology Article
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15
Dec
2012
Attentional Focus and Self-Talk
Attentional Focus and Best Use of Self-Talk in Closed Skill Tasks International rugby stars and place kickers Dan Carter, Ronan O Gara and Jonny Wilkinson, among many others place the ball, set themselves, say something to themselves and mostly go about their business and put the ball between the posts. So what exactly are they saying and why? Research has shown that the use of psychological techniques can enhance sporting performance (Krane & Williams, 2006). Use of psychological techniques, cognitive strategies or mental training has been commonly used by high performance athletes for many years. Aided by the growth Sports Psychology Article
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11
Dec
2012
Understand The Zone, Understand Sport
If you understand the playing zone, you understand sport. The big thing to realize is you have to go to the playing zone, it does not come to you and once you understand the parameters which allow you to enter, raise, expand and enhance the zone, you have to have a change perspective in what you do. What the playing zone is and how it works goes like this: The zone, like sport, works on space and time. And you have to think of the zone as a room in your mind. To enter this room you require stillness Sports Psychology Article
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