Sports Psychology For Dummies

Table of contents

- Sports Psychology For Dummies® (Page 1)
- About the Authors (Page 7)
- Dedication (Page 9)
- Authors’ Acknowledgments (Page 11)
- Contents at a Glance (Page 13)
- Table of Contents (Page 15)
- Introduction (Page 25)
- About This Book (Page 25)
- Conventions Used in This Book (Page 26)
- What You’re Not to Read (Page 26)
- Foolish Assumptions (Page 26)
- How This Book Is Organized (Page 27)
- Icons Used in This Book (Page 29)
- Where to Go from Here (Page 30)
- Part I: Getting the Winning Edge: Sports Psychology Fundamentals (Page 31)
- Chapter 1: Introducing Sports Psychology (Page 33)
- Your Secret Weapon: Your Mind (Page 34)
- Assembling Your Mental Toolkit (Page 37)
- Seeing Sports Psychology in Action (Page 37)
- Harnessing the Power of Teams (Page 38)
- Applying Sports Psychology as a Coach or Parent (Page 39)
- Chapter 2: The Gladiator Mind: Strengthening What’s Under the Helmet (Page 41)
- Defining Mental Toughness (Page 41)
- Increasing Your Mental Toughness: A Plan of Attack (Page 45)
- Chapter 3: Setting Goals: Aiming High and Hitting the Bull’s-Eye (Page 53)
- Setting Effective Goals (Page 54)
- Tracking Your Success in Reaching Your Goals (Page 59)
- Chapter 4: Stoking the Fire in Your Belly: How to Fan the Flames of Motivation (Page 63)
- Debunking Common Myths about Motivation (Page 64)
- Defining Motivation (Page 65)
- Assessing and Understanding Your Current Motivation Level (Page 67)
- Maximizing Your Motivation: How Fires Can Become Bonfires (Page 69)
- Overcoming Obstacles to Staying Motivated (Page 73)
- Chapter 5: Swagger: The Art and Science of Building Real Confidence (Page 79)
- What Confidence Is and Why It Matters (Page 79)
- Debunking Myths about Confidence (Page 80)
- Tapping Into the Confidence Cycle (Page 82)
- Building Your Confidence (Page 85)
- Tackling the Obstacles That Get in the Way of Confidence (Page 88)
- Part II: Your Mental Toolkit for Success (Page 93)
- Chapter 6: Mastering the Art of Focus (Page 95)
- What Focus Is and Why It Matters (Page 96)
- Thinking Big or Sweating the Small Stuff: The Zones of Focus (Page 98)
- Focusing on What Matters (Page 100)
- Using Focus to Reduce or Eliminate Pressure (Page 104)
- Overcoming the Obstacles to Focus (Page 105)
- Improving Your Focus (Page 108)
- Chapter 7: Seeing Is Believing: What You Need to Know about Imagery (Page 111)
- Introducing Imagery (Page 112)
- Determining What Type of Imager You Are (Page 114)
- Considering the Key Characteristics of Ideal Images (Page 116)
- Getting Started with Imagery (Page 120)
- Evaluating the Success of Your Imagery (Page 125)
- Chapter 8: Self-Talk: Making Sure You’re Not Yelling in Your Own Ear (Page 129)
- Considering the Consequences of Self-Talk (Page 129)
- Changing the Channel on Negative Self-Talk (Page 133)
- Using Self-Talk to Improve Your Performance (Page 138)
- Chapter 9: Getting a Hold of Your Schedule (Page 143)
- Time Management versus Task Management: Recognizing the Difference (Page 144)
- Clarifying Your Values (Page 146)
- Setting Priorities (Page 149)
- Adding Up the Hours You Waste (Page 151)
- Maintaining Accountability (Page 152)
- Part III: Staying Competitive: Sports Psychology in Action (Page 155)
- Chapter 10: Winning Habits: How Routines Improve Performance in Competition (Page 157)
- Identifying How Routines Improve Focus and Performance (Page 159)
- Recognizing the Difference between Routines and Superstitions (Page 160)
- Exploring the Routines of Elite Athletes (Page 162)
- Coming Up with Effective Practice and Game-Day Routines (Page 165)
- Knowing When and How to Adjust Your Routines (Page 171)
- Chapter 11: Handling Pressure: Playing in the Fire without Getting Burned (Page 173)
- Probing into Pressure: What It Is and Why It Occurs (Page 174)
- Understanding the Difference between Arousal and Pressure (Page 178)
- Handling Pressure like a Pro (Page 181)
- Chapter 12: Staying Strong: The Importance of Managing Energy Levels (Page 189)
- Eliminating Energy Wasters (Page 191)
- Tracking Your Energy Levels (Page 194)
- Managing Your Energy Levels (Page 196)
- Chapter 13: Handling Adversity: The Psychological Art of Bouncing Back (Page 205)
- Looking at Loss Differently (Page 206)
- Pulling Yourself Out of Slumps (Page 207)
- Bouncing Back after Mistakes in Competition (Page 211)
- Dealing with Injuries (Page 215)
- Part IV: Improving Team Performance with Sports Psychology (Page 223)
- Chapter 14: Communicating as a Team (Page 225)
- Dispelling Common Misconceptions about Communication (Page 226)
- Understanding How You Communicate: What You Say without Words (Page 228)
- Setting Up the Conditions for Ideal Communication (Page 231)
- Improving Your Communication Skills (Page 233)
- Chapter 15: Leading Your Team to Victory: Athletes as Leaders (Page 237)
- Knowing What Leadership Is (And What It Isn’t) (Page 238)
- Investigating Your Style of Leadership (Page 239)
- Being the Leader in the Big Moments (Page 241)
- Enhancing Your Leadership Skills (Page 247)
- Chapter 16: Developing Teamwork (Page 253)
- Developing a Team Mission (Page 254)
- For Coaches: Helping Your Players Come Together as a Team (Page 256)
- For Players: Putting Your Team above Yourself (Page 261)
- Part V: Sports Psychology for Coaches and Parents (Page 267)
- Chapter 17: Coaching Today’s Athlete (Page 269)
- Improving Your Athletes’ Focus (Page 270)
- Teaching Your Athletes to Perform under Pressure (Page 273)
- Motivating Your Athletes (Page 277)
- Getting Your Athletes to Play as a Team (Page 282)
- Chapter 18: Parenting an Athlete: How to Be More than Just a Fan (Page 287)
- Differentiating Between Your Motivation and Your Kids’ (Page 288)
- Encouraging Your Kids Instead of Pushing Them (Page 290)
- Getting Your Kids Ready for the Game (Page 291)
- Cheering on Your Kid the Right Way (Page 294)
- Understanding and Managing Athletic Burnout (Page 297)
- Talking with Your Kids When They Want to Quit (Page 300)
- Part VI: The Part of Tens (Page 305)
- Chapter 19: Ten Ways You Can Use Sports Psychology at the Office (Page 307)
- Preparing for the Workday (Page 307)
- Defining Career Success (Page 308)
- Balancing Work and Your Personal Life (Page 309)
- Concentrating Amidst Distractions (Page 310)
- Taking a Timeout from Stress (Page 310)
- Performing Well Under Pressure (Page 312)
- Developing Effective Work Routines (Page 312)
- Focusing On Tasks rather than Outcomes (Page 313)
- Coping with Conflict and Adversity on the Job (Page 314)
- Enlisting Your Own Support Team (Page 315)
- Chapter 20: Ten Ways to Be a Better Competitor (Page 317)
- Evaluate Where You Are (Page 317)
- Know What Motivates You (Page 318)
- Define Your Goals (Page 318)
- Set an Action Plan (Page 319)
- Improve Gradually and Consistently (Page 319)
- Train Your Mind Daily (Page 320)
- Improve Your Physical Skills (Page 320)
- Tweak Your Methods (Page 321)
- Develop and Maintain Your Fitness (Page 321)
- Seek Out Pressure (Page 321)
- Chapter 21: Ten Ways to Manage Stress Better (Page 323)
- Prioritize (Page 324)
- Strive for Balance (Page 324)
- Meditate (Page 325)
- Use Imagery (Page 326)
- Manage Your Thoughts and Emotions (Page 326)
- Exercise (Page 327)
- Get Enough Sleep (Page 328)
- Cultivate a Support Network (Page 329)
- Laugh (Page 329)
- Practice Gratitude (Page 330)
- Chapter 22: Ten Ways to Parent an Athlete (Page 333)
- Deciding Whether to Specialize (Page 333)
- Choosing the Right League (Page 335)
- Knowing What to Say after a Loss (Page 335)
- Being a Fan, not a Coach (Page 336)
- Cheering, not Yelling (Page 336)
- Talking with Your Kid’s Coach (Page 337)
- Rewarding the Things That Matter (Page 338)
- Budgeting Your Time and Money (Page 338)
- Focusing on Learning Life Skills (Page 339)
- Living Your Own Life instead of Living through Your Kid (Page 340)
- Index (Page 341)