The mental athlete : [inner training for peak performance in all sports

''Athletes and coaches have long sought a sport psych training manual they can really use. The Mental Athlete is exactly that - a conditionality manual for the mind to assess inner strengths and weaknesses, gain confidence and reduce fear of failure, improve sport-related thought processes, initiate positive changes on the court and field, and respond more effectively to challenges in the competitive arena.''--BOOK JACKET. Read more... Improved mental ability means improved sports performance. Athletes who excel do so not just because of their physical abilities but because of their mental awareness, preparation, and skills as well. The Mental Athlete will help improve your overall performance by providing the tools, guidance, and practical insight you need to sharpen your mental skills. This conditioning manual for the mind will help you •further enhance mental strengths and address weaknesses through effective self-assessments, •increase confidence in personal abilities and avoid the fear of failure, •heighten awareness of inner-thought processes and learn ways to improve them, and •be free of inhibitions to initiate action and to respond intuitively and positively to challenges. No matter what sport you play and at what level you play, you will find this practical, reader-friendly book useful because it not only lets you know what you need to do to improve your mental abilities, but it also shows you how to improve them. It contains exercises, tests, and worksheets that help you move through the steps of mental achievement. In addition, The Mental Athlete contains the following features: •Sections that cover specific sports and issues •Sport-specific visualizations for football, soccer, volleyball, and many other sports •Information on issues such as team building; recovering from injuries; and letting go of mistakes, losses, anger, and fear Take full advantage of your physical skills by fully developing your mental skills—the aim of The Mental Athlete! Contents Chapter 1 Essentials for Effective Mental Training Chapter 2 Developing Mental Training Skills Chapter 3 Gauging Your Mental Aptitude Chapter 4 Taking Steps Toward Positive Thinking Chapter 5 Preparing Your Mind and Body for Mental Training Chapter 6 Unleashing the Power of the Mind Chapter 7 Optimizing Your Performance Chapter 8 Troubleshooting Performance Blocks Chapter 9 Mental Training for Specific Needs Chapter 10 Mental Training for Life Athletes And Coaches Have Long Sought A Sport Psych Training Manual They Can Really Use. The Mental Athlete Is Exactly That - A Conditionality Manual For The Mind To Assess Inner Strengths And Weaknesses, Gain Confidence And Reduce Fear Of Failure, Improve Sport-related Thought Processes, Initiate Positive Changes On The Court And Field, And Respond More Effectively To Challenges In The Competitive Arena.--jacket. Essentials For Effective Mental Training -- Developing Mental Training Skills -- Gauging Your Mental Aptitude -- Taking Steps Toward Positive Thinking -- Preparing Your Mind And Body For Mental Training -- Unleashing The Power Of The Mind -- Optimizing Your Performance -- Troubleshooting Performance Blocks -- Mental Training For Specific Needs -- Mental Training For Life. Kay Porter. A Book By Kay Porter And Judy Foster With The Same Title Was Published By William C. Brown And Ballantine Books In 1986. This 2004 Version Of The Mental Athlete Is A Completely New Book. Includes Bibliographical References (p. 205) And Index. Content: Essentials for effective mental training -- Developing mental training skills -- Gauging your mental aptitude -- Taking steps toward positive thinking -- Preparing your mind and body for mental training -- Unleashing the power of the mind -- Optimizing your performance -- Troubleshooting performance blocks -- Mental training for specific needs -- Mental training for life. Abstract: This title aims to help improve your overall performance by providing the tools, guidance, and practical insight you need to sharpen your mental skills. Read more... What do Marion Jones, Michael Jordan, and Tiger Woods have in common?