Tampa Bay Buccaneer quarterback, Baker Mayfield has discussed the importance of mindset and how negative thoughts are generally more impactful than positive thoughts. “If you put negative stuff into your head, you’re gonna believe it 100% of the time. Positive stuff – you can do it every once in a Read more
Athletes at every level, whether seasoned competitors or weekend warriors, know that physical training is only a piece of athletic challenge. The mental game often determines who wins, who perseveres, and who thrives in big moments. Sport psychology isn’t just about motivational clichés or “think positive” mantras. Seasoned athletes frequently Read more
Words like stress, worry, fear and anxiety are often used interchangeably when discussing an athletes’ mental state. While related they are not the same. Identifying the difference can help an athlete better understand what they are experiencing and choose the right action. Stress: The Body’s Alarm System: Stress is the Read more
Young athletes often place excessive pressure on themselves by stating, “I must accomplish xyz or I’ll fail, or coaches, agents, etc., will overlook me for signing.” While coaches, agents, and others may seek specific qualities, self-imposed pressure can hinder progress. This mindset negatively impacts performance due to psychological stress and Read more
The term “tilt” originates from poker or gamers experiencing a state of emotional or physical distress known as “going on tilt.” It is a useful description for spiraling out-of-control response of an athlete’s emotions, often triggered by frustration, anger, or disappointment. Once an athlete becomes tilted, it frequently leads to Read more
At the Jan. 2025 Australian Grand Slam, AO, American tennis pro Madison Keys, put aside her mental/emotional brakes and put together a stellar two week performance. Along the way she defeated the two currently highest ranked WTA players, Iga Światek and Aryna Sabalenka. More pointedly during Madison’s post match interview Read more
Social media engagement in athletes lives is here to stay. An athletes ability to market/brand him/herself and create a large fan following can lead to profitable Name/Image/Likeness (NIL) deals for collegians. Social media presence for professional athletes can enhance endorsements at the next level. An athlete with an on-line presence Read more
Young athletes with high expectations can find themselves tumbling into an abyss of negative emotions and hard self judgment when falling short of their outcome ideals. This behavior often occurs under perceived pressure of a match, game, event, tournament. A few missed shots, or falling behind in the score can Read more
“Growth Mindset in Sport and in Life” https://bit.ly/4267doS (Nov. 2016 Vol. 4), is an article from SportPsychWorks, through APA-47. It is a simple check list an athlete can use to reflect on which mindset they bring into their sport development. Often an athlete traverses between two mindsets, one being Fixed the Read more
Steve Young, ex 49er QB provides insightful details of the qualities current 49er QB Brock Purdy brings to the position. Young touches on Purdy’s attention to detail which contributes to high performance pressure success. Key takeaways that any athlete can apply to their sport: * Purdy isn’t overrun by adrenaline Read more