admin, Author at SPORTS MENTAL EDGE

Sports Performance: Do you take any positives after losing?

Athletes compete to win. They work hard to do the best they can and, when they finally lift up the trophy, the joy pours through their veins. It is true that professional sport psychologists emphasize learning through its process rather than focusing on whether we win or lose. However, as challenging as this is, it is difficult to disengage from a sports culture that puts a lot of weight on winning records. Stacy Lewis, currently …

Do you choke? Your own eyes may give you a big clue

We tend to easily assume that if an athlete misses a crucial shot, then it must be because he/she is a choker. We have witnessed more than our fair share of top athletes missing key plays only to be immediately labeled by the media as choking under pressure. But in reality, we may miss a bigger picture. According to Daniel Gould, a very experienced sport psychologist, choking is a process. The pressure of competition builds …

Are you seeking perfection?

What if I told you that seeking perfection may hurt your chances of eventually getting it? We spend a lot of time learning, a lot of time practicing, and a lot of energy competing. We strive to be the best. Reaching the number one spot is what motivates many athletes in pursue of their dreams. Unless you sweat it, there is no way you can achieve it. There are many motivational quotes and inspirational phrases …

How did you learn to ride a bicycle?

Any sport psychologist will tell you that thinking about the mechanics of your swing or stroke are a sure recipe for disaster. Regardless of the sport you practice, your peak performance will be achieved once you let go of your thinking process and allow yourself to fully trust in your swing or stroke. Do you remember when you first started to ride a bicycle? At first, there was a lot of instruction coming from a …

NCAA men’s basketball greatest coach

To win the NCAA title once is a spectacular achievement; to win it 11 times, it is out of this world; to win it 7 consecutive times, no words can really describe it. Coach John Wooden led the UCLA men’s basketball team to those unbelievable achievements. It is one of those records that will stand for life. A lot was written about Coach Wooden and many have tried to copy what he did, but despite …