Fem Grapplers, Up Your Game With A Sports Psychologist

Great coaches of the mind have the ability to achieve anything.

Acquiring a group of players from Team A, that just lost profusely to Team B and within a year turning them around into believers where when they meet Team B again, then solidly defeat their former nemesis, requires many skillsets from the successful coach.

Being an exceptional Sports Psychologist is high up on the list.

How is a Sports Psychologist defined?

The American Psychological Association educates, “Sport psychology is 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. APA recognizes sport psychology as a proficiency acquired after a doctoral degree in one of the primary areas of psychology and licensure as a psychologist. This proficiency should not be confused with those who have earned a doctoral degree in sport psychology, but are not licensed psychologists.”

We love the thoughts from livestrong.com on the subject. “Success or failure on the field often depends on mental factors as much as physical ones. Sport psychologists recognize the dramatic impact of the athlete’s mindset, and focus on preparing the mind to overcome obstacles on the field while boosting confidence for optimal performance. By definition, sport psychology is the study of mental factors as they relate to athletics. Sport psychology is commonly referred to as “sport and exercise psychology,” as it is used for team sports as well as individual fitness endeavors.”

Yes, a license is not required but experience, creativity, passion and the iron will to win are all essential requirements.

Nowhere was this better displayed than the Warner Brothers box office hit Million Dollar Baby.

The storyline goes, Frankie Dunn (Clint Eastwood) is a veteran Los Angeles boxing trainer who keeps almost everyone at arm’s length, except his old friend and associate Eddie “Scrap Iron” Dupris (Morgan Freeman). When Maggie Fitzgerald (Hilary Swank) arrives in Frankie’s gym seeking his expertise, he is reluctant to train the young woman, a transplant from working-class Missouri. Eventually, he relents, and the two form a close bond that will irrevocably change them both.

If you saw the movie, the importance of effective Sports Psychology is very evident from a team of leaders.

Watching Karina of Russia and Luna from England battle it out in a very close match at another great Femwrestle event highlights the importance of being mentally and psychologically tough with a plan. As the match went back and forth in a ground war struggle of endurance it was very telling and mesmerizing.

http://wrestling-movies.com/catalog/vendor/Luna_vs_Karina.html

If you are a female submission wrestler who feels her wrestling is stuck in a rut, it’s probably wise to look outside of your circle and consult with someone prominent in the industry who you have not worked with before and receive some fresh eyes on an old subject.

A guest writer who speaks to the subject will provide us with some fresh eyes as well.

Sports Psychology – What Good Is a Sports Shrink?

By Dr. Patrick J. Cohn 

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.

Want to learn simple, proven mental toughness skills that you can apply to competition? Grab my free online mental toughness report, 10 “Costly” mental game mistakes athletes make and what every athlete and coach must know to improve mental preparation:

http://www.peaksports.com/mental-toughness-report-athletes/ Dr. Patrick Cohn is a master mental game coach who works with professional and amateur athletes, sports parents, and teams of all levels. Visit peaksports.com for more information.

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OPENING PHOTO CREDIT nickbollettieri.com

Sources: brainyquote.com, Wikipedia, fciwomenswrestling2.com, FCI Elite Competitor, photos thank you Wikimedia Commons.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/expert/Dr._Patrick_J._Cohn/2713

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/6042995

http://www.livestrong.com/article/134188-definition-sport-psychology/

http://www.apa.org/ed/graduate/specialize/sports.aspx