Q: What type of athlete benefits from Mental Skills Training?
A: There is a common misconception that only problem athletes (i.e. “head cases”) should be referred for mental skills training. Every athlete can benefi t from an improvement in their mental skills.
Q: Is Mental Skills Training only for elite athletes?
A: No. The difference between elite athletes and amateur athletes is an understanding of how their mental game influences performance. Not only this, but also how mental skills can assist them to make the necessary improvements in their technical and tactical games to help them make the step up from amateur to elite.
Q: Is the best time to refer to Mental Skills Training when the season is going on?
A: No. The best time to start mental skills training is in the pre-season period. This gives athletes time to develop their mental game and make it a habit. If you are trying to work on your mental skills and perform simulatneously, mistakes will be made and life becomes stressful.
Q: Are Mental Skills are a quick/magical fix?
A: Sorry, if you are looking for a quick fix, you are in the wrong place. Mental skills training takes time and effort, just the same way that lifting weights once doesn’t give you enormous muscles. It may be magical and produce great improvements in your game, however this will not “just happen”. If you are mentally weak you will certainly see the value of investing in improving your mental game.
Q: Is Mental Skills Training expensive?
A: The return on investment is the greatest aspect of interest for athletes and coaches. Just think about how much money you are spending performing at only an adequate level. Investing in a mental skills program will help to make your physical training and tactical game come together and you will see results.
Q: What payment options are available?
A: Most often you are sent an invoice with your session summaries. This allows you to pay via EFT, credit card or cheque; however paying by cheque or cash on the day is a popular payment option.
Q: Are parents and coaches allowed to sit in the sessions?
A: I encourage parents and coaches to be a positive part of their athletes’ development, therefore I help them to stay informed about what was discussed in the session. Sitting in on the session however is entirely up to the athlete and this should be discussed prior to coming to the office.
Q: What age is too young to start Mental Skills Training?
A: I have worked with athletes as young as 4 and 5, the key is to deliver relevant information to their developmental stage and make it fun. The sooner they start getting involved in Mental Skills Training, the sooner they will hold a competitive advantage over their competition.
Q: Don’t improvements in mental skills and mental toughness happen at training through hard work and the coach’s drills?
A: Yes, training drills will help to improve athletes’ mental skills. More often than not, athletes are just trying to survive and coaches don’t have time to explain every aspect of the drill. Mental skills training helps to support the coach’s training drills by highlighting to individuals or the group how they can use each drill to train their mental game.
Q: Is Mental Skills Training only needed when something goes wrong?
A: Definitely not! Just in the same way fi tness training is done to ensure athletes are fitter than needed, Prevention is better than a Cure! Mental skills training should be utilized to help athletes go above and beyond and prevent the performance slumps associated with mental lapses?
