What Is My Competitive Athlete Not Telling Me? What is my competitive athlete not telling me? Your athlete is likely hiding struggles that don't fit sport's "toughness" narrative—perfectionism that extends to every area of life, using training as armor against feeling inadequate, or carrying the exhausting weight of being watched as
sport psychology How Do I Stop Thinking About Getting Injured Again? Stop intrusive injury thoughts by systematically rewiring your threat response through four cognitive techniques: naming the thought pattern to interrupt autopilot, reality-checking predictions with logged evidence, replacing fear thoughts with prepared mental cues, and building counter-evidence through progressive exposure. These work over 4-6 weeks with daily 5-minute practice—not sporadic
Why Am I So Scared to Play After My ACL Surgery? Re-injury fear after ACL surgery is a normal nervous system response, not weakness. Your brain remembers the original injury and scans for threat signals even after physical clearance. Female athletes experience 2-6 times higher re-injury fear than males due to biological factors including hormones, joint mechanics, and the intensity of
Mental Performance Training for Young Female Athletes: A Starter Guide for Coaches Introduction Girls' sports have never been bigger. But the mental support for girls hasn’t kept up. By high school, a lot of sporty girls quietly step away—not because they stopped caring, but because the pressure, body image stuff, social drama, and constant judgment add up. This guide
mental skills The Secret Behind Elite Athletes: It's Not Mental Toughness Ever wonder why some elite athletes thrive under pressure while others crumble? The secret might not be what you think. It's not about being mentally tough, but something sports psychologists call "psychological flexibility." Sport performance psychologist and mental game expert, Alex Auerbach, shares insights into how
volleyball Mastering the Mental Game: High School to Club Volleyball Transition Guide The shift from high school to club volleyball brings significant mental and emotional adjustments for both athletes and their parents. While most athletes and families prepare for the obvious changes - like new schedules, different teammates, and increased competition levels - the mental and emotional challenges often catch people off
sport psychology Mindset Matters: The Key to Student Athlete Success For student-athletes, understanding and developing the right mindset can be crucial for success both in sports and academics. Defining Mindset A mindset is a set of beliefs that guide our perceptions, and subsequently, our actions. These beliefs are internalized from several sources, like: * Peers * Media * Parents * School and Youth Club
sport psychology Book Excerpt: Called to Greatness This is an excerpt from my upcoming book, Called to Greatness. Welcome to your handbook on high performance. This book is my endeavor to synthesize two parts of the human experience which have both fascinated me and informed my performance coaching philosophy: what allows humans to perform at their best
mental skills A Player’s Path to Athletic Excellence: Embracing the Monotony Imagine this: You're a high school athlete, passionate about your sport, and you dream of reaching the top. You see the glitz and glamour of professional sports on TV, the high-intensity performances, the world's best athletes. But what you don't see is the monotony
Unveiling the Secrets of Super Champions: What Sets Them Apart? Imagine this: The year is 1992. The Olympics are on the horizon. Two decathletes, Dan O'Brien and Dave Johnson, are the faces of track and field. They've competed against each other in world championships, each having their moments of victory. Their rivalry breathes new life into
mental skills Embrace the Grind: Transforming Monotony into Motivation | For Youth Coaches Hey there, coach. Let's talk about something that doesn't make the highlight reels but is crucial to your team's success: the daily grind. You know, those repetitive drills and practices that can feel like Groundhog Day for your athletes. It's not the
