How Mental Performance Training Helps

Research shows athletes and business partners who have experience with a Mental Performance Coach had better mindfulness, less anxiety, performed better under pressure, and had better overall well-being and satisfaction compared to peers who do not have experience with a CMPC. (BMC Psychology, 2020)

Mental Performance Training is similar to Sports Psychology. The American Psychology Association (APA) describes Sports Psychology as. "a proficiency that uses psychological knowledge and skills to address optimal performance and well-being of athletes, developmental and social aspects of sports participation, and systemic issues associated with sports settings and organizations. Sport Psychology interventions are designed to assist athletes and other sports participants (e.g., coaches, administrators, parents) from a wide array of settings, levels of competition and ages, ranging from recreational youth participants to professional and Olympic athletes to master’s level performers." Mental Performance Training is under the guidance of The Association of Applied Sports Psychology (AASP). The focus is on creating a toolkit for performers such as goal setting, self-talk, and motivation as well as referencing the APA interventions above. All Certified Mental Performance Consultants are required to oblige by the AASP Code of Ethics.

Sports Psychology and mental performance is a field likely to grow 14% the next 3 years with many businesses, universities, and high schools employing Sports Psychologists and CMPCs to speak and work with their teams in addition to many olympic and professional teams who have utilized quality specialists for the last 3 decades. This is largely due to society's influence on the importance of mental health and finding the secret sauce to getting an edge.

“I think that everything is possible as long as you put your mind to it and you put the work and time into it. I think your mind really controls everything.”-Michael Phelps

Mindfulness

Mental training can influence you by learning to journal. By journaling daily for 15 minutes you are able to reflect on the day, be honest with yourself, and have a visual of where your life may be headed. At the end of each month you can look back on the previous month to see if you made progress towards any goals or to see if there are any reoccurring problems to solve in the next month.

Anxiety

A lot of the time we create our own problems by thinking of the results in our head before the event occurs. You will learn how to deal with adrenaline and visualize success. Pair that with having great routines, you will be able to turn anxiety into confidence.

Pressure

Shooting a PK or kicking a game winning field goal can be very nerve-racking. Using breath work, relying on strengths, and having positive self-talk can help you to have successful outcomes.

Purpose

What motivates you? What happens when sports ends? You will be able to answer those questions and find meaningful purpose as well as have great self-worth with your new toolkit.

Other Mental Training Skills

Communication and Leadership
Imagery
Arousal
Self-Talk
Goal Setting
Motivation
Dieting
Optimism
Habits
Confidence
Burnout and Retirement
Nervousness
Team Building
Concentration