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INSANITY 60 Day Total Body Conditioning Workout DVD Program

INSANITY 60 Day Total Body Conditioning Workout DVD Program

Sports Psychology For Swimmers - Mental Aspects of Swimming Faster

Over the years, I have counseled athletes from virtually every sport from around the world. In the past, I have coached many swimmers and right now I am working with several highly competitive and talented swimmers. Many of them are hoping for Division I scholarships. Some are hoping to make the Olympics.
The beauty of working with swimmers is that their times give me, the coaches and their parents a good sense as to the nature and severity of the problem. While some pools appear to be faster than others, a swimmer's time and fractions tell you a lot about the strengths and weaknesses in his or her performances.
Last week, I got a call from a swimmer who had lost eight seconds off his best time in his event. Obviously, this is a huge drop and it indicates a huge slump in the athlete's progress. The swimmer and his mother were quite concerned and puzzled as to what had caused this decline in performance.
Two months ago, I worked with a swimmer who was losing to another swimmer by a fraction of a second. She is quite intimidated by the other swimmer and seems to lose confidence and focus whenever she races against this adversary.
From a psychological standpoint, these are very different situations. And the kind of coaching that these athletes need is very different. The first swimmer is really "stuck," and probably needs a mental overhaul. The second swimmer needs more of a tune up.
When a swimmer responds to a psychological positively to a psychological intervention and we see a drop in time, we know we are on the right path. Conversely, if there is no change in time, we may need to go in a different direction.
When I counsel swimmers, we focus on their internal psychology as well as their racing strategy. We set goals and we teach them how to get into the zone during practice and during competition. Some swimmers are very weak in terms of racing strategy and what might be thought of as mental toughness.

What is Sport Psychology and How Can it Help Your Game?

Sport psychology is something that we often hear about, but may not know exactly what it is. It is the principles of psychology used in a sport setting.  Consultants look at how psychological aspects control an individual's physical performance, and how competition in sport affects their psychological development, health, and well-being (Weinberg & Gould, 2003).
Unfortunately, it is often viewed as something necessary for the weak-minded competitor who has "issues." The reality is that the mental game of sports affects every athlete, no matter what their strengths or weaknesses may be. This discipline can help any athlete strive to meet their potential.
Fencing is one example sport that can be used: Fencing is both a physical and mental game. Fencers prepare for the physical game by developing muscle memory through repetitive bladework and footwork drills. The mental game is obvious to fencers; however, little is done to train this large portion of fencing. The majority of fencers who utilize specific psychological training are Division I fencers (Athanas, 2007). Consequently, many competitors are not fully prepared to meet all of the demands of their sport.
There are many benefits from working with a consultant. Applied sport psychology professionals are interested in how participation in mental skills training can help an athlete's development throughout their competitive career. The athlete may have trouble reaching goals, have an injury, or confidence difficulties. Through sport psychology, an athlete can gain the "mental edge" to reach their goals, recover from injury, or gain confidence. Techniques that are commonly used in sport psychological practices include (but are not limited to) imagery and visualization, relaxation, goal setting, building confidence, learning to focus, and regulating energy levels.
Through learning and practicing these techniques, fencer has the ability to reach their potential.
You may be wondering how to get started. However, you don't want to fall prey to scams. There are many people who claim to be "experts" in psychology but lack the proper training and education.
It is recommended that you only work with legitimate professionals. Before investing any money, ask the consultant questions about what their client population is, what their educational background is, if they are specialized in working with athletes, and how long they have been involved in sport psychology. Only certified consultants are recognized by the Association of the Applied Sport Psychology. If you are seeking a certified sport psychology consultant or you would like to know more about this topic, refer to www.aaasponline.org for more information.
It is important to point out that athletes of all divisions and experience levels can benefit from sport psychology. By working with a sport psychology consultant, you will be able to fortify your weaknesses and improve your strengths through mental skills training. Every sport has both physical and mental components. Many athletes  already toughen their bodies through practice and physical fitness. Toughen your mental game through practicing applied sport psychology [http://www.fencing.net/category/mental-training-for-fencing/].
References: Athanas, E. H. (2007). Fear of failure, experience and division as predictors to state anxiety in USFA epee fencers. Georgia Southern University. Statesboro, Georgia. Unpublished Masters thesis.
Weinberg, R. S. & Goldberg, D. (2003). Foundations of sport and exercise psychology. Champaign, IL: Human Kinetics Books.

Sports Psychology - What Good Is a Sports Shrink?

Although mental training is still a developing discipline of performance enhancement elite athletes have been using mental training techniques for years. For example For example Jack Nicklaus used mental imagery before every single shot he played and Roy Halladay admits to listening to a mental rehearsal programs before each game he pitches.
There are many possible reasons why people still do not buy into the benefits of sport psychology. The main reasons being a fear of the unknown, a lack of time, and confusion on what works best.
Sports psychologists' help athletes identify and overcome the mental barriers that limit their performance, therefore allow them to fulfill their true athletic potential. More and more athletes are dedicating parts of their training to the mental side of their performance to gain a mental edge over their competitors.
Sports psychology professionals aim to improve athlete's mental skills, such as self-confidence, motivation, the ability to relax under pressure, and the ability to concentrate in competition. Sports Psychology is another weapon in the athlete's arsenal to gaining a competitive edge. Sports psychologists are not really shrinks per se, but instead educate athletes about the importance of mental game skills and how their mindset affects sports performance.
Working with a sports psychologist can help you improve your performance by focusing on techniques that help you excel in competitive situations. Good mental game experts teach simple mental training strategies and techniques to help athletes overcome the challenges that limit their ability. It's not therapy, but education. And a good mental game coach helps athletes apply what they learn to practice and competition.
Through repetition and applying these strategies in practice and competition, athletes are able to develop a strong mental game to reach peak performance my consistently. But the key is to take what you learn in the educational sessions and apply to practice and competition.
However, some athletes resist sports psychology training. With a stronger mindset, athletes improve their consistency, boost their confidence, improve their focus and learn how to practice smarter.
And athletes are not broken or dysfunctional if they engage in mental game training. The mental game can be improved with practice just like physical skill. Many pros rely on sports psychology to improve their confidence and performance.
Next time you're in a slump and want to improve your performance, consider mental game training or sports psychology. To achieve excellence, athletes need to grow their talents through focused and effective practice and get the mental edge with sport psychology.