Sports Psychology For Dummies 2nd Edition

Description

By (author) Smith Leif H.; By (author) Kays Todd M.

:

Get your head in the game with this hands-on guide to the psychology of sport

There”s more to getting into the right headspace for the big game or event than trying to think like a winner. Modern sports psychologists emphasize advanced strategies like biofeedback and neurofeedback, while encouraging the use of mindfulness and other mental health techniques.

In Sports Psychology For Dummies, 2nd Edition, a team of athletic performance experts and psychologists walks you through the mental side of intense competition and training. From the importance of focus to the tactics designed to restore and improve confidence after a loss, you”ll explore ideas such as goal setting, self-perception, and self-talk. This book also covers:

• Personalized plans for athletic success
• Real-life examples of sports psychology changing the athletic experience in different sports
• The wide variety of careers available in the field of sports psychology and how to get started in them

Ideal for athletes, parents of student athletes, and coaches looking for ways to improve performance both on and off the field, Sports Psychology For Dummies is also the perfect resource for anyone interested in a career in this rapidly growing and evolving field.

Table of contents:

Introduction 1

About This Book 1

Foolish Assumptions 3

Icons Used in This Book 3

Beyond the Book 4

Where to Go from Here 4

Part 1: Getting the Winning Edge: Sports Psychology Fundamentals 5

Chapter 1: Introducing Sports Psychology and Mental Training 
7

Honing Your Sharpest Weapon: Your Mind 8

Knowing how your mind influences your sports performance 9

Discovering your ideal mindset in sports performance 9

Building your ideal mindset with awareness and the right processes 10

Understanding your motivation 10

Understanding and building confidence for your athletic performance 10

Building, Preparing, and Practicing Your Mental Toolkit 11

Seeing Sports Psychology in Action 12

Knowing the Hot Trends in Sports Psychology Today 12

Becoming a Sports Psychology-Savvy Coach 13

Chapter 2: Starting with the End in Mind: Know Your Ideal Athlete Mindset 
15

Tapping Into Your Ideal Mindset 16

Discovering your ideal performance mindset 17

Performing without thinking 19

Developing a Plan of Attack to Make it Consistent 19

Preparing your ideal mindset 21

Practicing your mindset 21

Assessing and improving your mindset 21

Avoiding the mindset of perfection 21

Slipping into the flow state or zone 22

Chapter 3: Setting Goals: Aiming High and Hitting the Bull’s Eye 23

Setting Effective Goals 25

Determining your goals 25

Making your goals specific 28

Setting goals that challenge you 28

Setting deadlines for each goal 29

Working with tiny goals 30

Tracking Your Success in Reaching Your Goals 30

Holding yourself accountable 31

Celebrating your achievements 31

Measuring your goals 32

Giving yourself permission to adjust your goals 33

Realizing that perfection doesn’t exist 34

Chapter 4: Stoking the Fire in Your Belly: How to Fan the Flames of Motivation 
37

Debunking Common Myths about Motivation 38

You can get your motivation from other people 38

Fame and fortune are great motivators 38

Motivation alone can lead to success 40

Defining Motivation 40

Understanding the two types of motivation: Internal and external 40

Identifying which type of motivation is better 42

Knowing your own personal motivations 42

Assessing and Understanding Your Cur