I was told recently by a coach that mental skills training is really more appropriate for the top level, professional athletes, where it can actually make a difference. I disagree.
While it may be true that the talent gap is smaller in the pros than in high school or college, I would argue that mental skills training is a vital part of any comprehensive athletic program. If you’re not engaging in a dedicated process of building mental skills in your players, you’re leaving player development opportunities (and probably some competitive success) on the table.
What are mental skills?
In sport psychology, there is a wide range of topics to help players succeed. These can include:
The ability to be appropriately pumped up for the competitive moment, and to manage emotions in the flow of competition.
Every sport has different demands placed on the player, and every position has its own unique recipe for focused attention. For example, an Indy car driver needs high focus that can be sustained over a period of hours. On the other hand, a baseball shortstop needs calm focus, but also the ability to spring into action in a split second. We have the ability to train athletes for specific kinds of mental requirements, especially with the use of highly refined techniques like neurofeedback. (Pro tip: The coach who screams “FOOOOCUSSSS!!!” at the players from the sidelines probably isn’t helping.)
Teaching players how to set goals beyond “I want to win” is crucial to maintaining attitude and intensity throughout the season.
If you can imagine it, there’s a much greater chance you can do it. I spend lots of energy with pitchers, golfers, and bowlers on visualizing each event before initiating the motion.
This is critical to maintaining positivity, especially when things don’t go as planned in competition. There’s significant research to show that positive self-talk has a direct impact on athletic achievement, but it takes practice and training.
This is a skill, and learning to communicate, share responsibility, and support your teammates will make a big difference in how the season goes. Because it is a skill, it can be taught, practiced, and improved.
Advantages to mental skills training
I would argue that any or all the skills listed above would have an impact on athletes at any level, from the pros, down to pee-wee. Here are some specific advantages this work brings.
The more your players can hold it together, focus, visualize, etc., the better they will make use of their abilities, and the more coachable they will be. When lining up against a team that doesn’t work on these things, it’s almost an unfair advantage…. almost.
Coaching is more enjoyable
When kids lose their cool, don’t listen, or can’t focus to do the things you’ve coached them to do, it’s just not fun. Sure, coaching is about the players, but for coaches to stay in the profession, it really helps to enjoy the process.
The same things that make it fun for you will also make it more fun for the players. When they feel empowered to to the things they’ve been coached to do, they feel a sense of control. Success breeds success, and they stay with you. If they feel helpless, out of control, or unfulfilled, they drift away.
Players reach their potential
Mental skills are critical for physical achievement. There’s a reason so many amazing athletes say success is really 90% mental. Sure, having the speed of a cheetah or the wingspan of a pterodactyl doesn’t hurt, but how many of us have toiled over players who have every physical gift you can imagine, but just can’t put it together to succeed because of attitude, emotional dysregulation, or mental toughness? That’s mental skills in action. Only when mind and body are working in sync can the athlete reach her/his potential.
Mental skills are life skills
This may be the most important of all. Even if you have the next LeBron on your team, you’re still training this young person for more than winning… at least I hope that’s the case. We know the odds of a player, even in NCAA Division I, playing in the professional ranks is miniscule. So, we need to remember that we’re not just coaching them for that. We’re coaching them to be people.
Every mental skill listed above, when taken out into the world, is an important part of being a productive adult member of society. When the lights dim, and the trophies are tossed to make room for new ones, your influence on your players has an opportunity to live on in what they take from your program. Ethics. Fairness. Resilience. Mental toughness. Leadership. Presence. Teamwork. Emotional stability. This is what all but the rarest of athletes will take from your program. Mental skills training is how you instill these values in them.
I work with individuals, coaches, and groups to build mental skills. I’d love to talk about how I can help you and your team succeed. I can work in-person, or from a distance. Contact me to arrange a consultation, and let’s see if my work is right for you.