There are many features that make PETTLEP a fully functional aspect of mental conditioning especially for athletes of sports that require fine motor coordination (aka. gymnastics, diving, high jumpers, pole vaulters etc).  However, it should also be known that even endurance athletes can employ methods that reinforce the experience of “going with the flow”...
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What Does Mental Training Do for an Athlete? Many people lack a basic understanding of applied sport psychology, yet the world’s best athletes are likely to use one.  Why?  Have you ever thought about how a strong foundation of mental conditioning skills might benefit you or your team?  Those that have explored this question...
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Dear Friends, As I’ve been observing the difficulties so many of us have had over the last few years – I’m reminded of the formula:  REALITY /(divided by) EXPECTATIONS = HAPPINESS. It takes awhile to really grasp the full picture of what this formula says, but once you ponder it awhile, you will be...
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The fun theory gets traction from the fabulously effective “Piano Stairs”.  This is an encore for this piece in Podium Sports Journal – but perhaps because its been so effective.  Almody 13 million viewers have watched this video produced The Fun Theory in an effort sponsored by Volkswagen.  Located in a subway station in...
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by Stephen Walker, PhD, CC-AASP, USOC Registry of Sport Psychologists It was roughly 50 years ago, and I was anointed with a new nickname.  The Cherry Hills Bruins of the Young America League Football organization had just given us a new coach.  Right away I discovered that he wasn’t very good with names.  He...
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He was doing his best to keep from breaking down, but the tears filled his eyes, the emotions were raw and he was lost. “Whatever I do it’s never good enough”… was what he uttered, but the pain in his body was palpable.  His name was Kyle – Wolfie to his teammates.  He just...
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In a major review of research published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology (2005), Alan Rozanski summarized developments that have implications for cardiologists and psychologists in the emerging specialization, cardiac psychology. Rozanski offers a pervasive review of the literature that demonstrate how depression, anger, anxiety, marital stress, occupational stress, and...
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The "Centering" Breath is a stress control technique that is used to reduce an individual's experience of nervousness and/or anxiety. Whether the sensation involves a pre-competition arousal or anxiety the experience is usually regarded as unpleasant and a precursor to panic attack.
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For Recovery from Post -Concussive Syndrome and/or Physical Injuries Managing Fatigue It is important to consciously limit demands you make on yourself during recovery. People who strive to achieve or gauge their self-worth by how much they accomplish are particularly vulnerable to exacerbations of depression and anxiety. These emotions tend to make our adjustment...
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