This blog post marks the first in a series of six posts on enhancing performance through training mental skills. This post will act as an introduction to the key concepts, while subsequent posts will cover arousal regulation, imagery, self-confidence, goal setting and concentration.
As with any other components of health, these Psychological Skills would fit perfectly on one of the spokes of the Range of Motion Model of Health.
Psychological Skills Training is the training and practice of mental skills that contribute to increase performance – sporting or otherwise.
A psychological skills training program comprises three phases:
Education: The knowledge that the mental side of performance is important.
Acquisition: Undertaking the strategies and techniques to develop the mental skills.
Practice Phase: Putting the strategies and techniques into practice.
It is often said that the mental side of performance is ‘half the game’. Even so – very little time (if any) is devoted to training this half.
This series will give you the tools to balance this equation.
Arousal Regulation – Psychological Skills Training
Imagery – Psychological Skills Training
Self Confidence – Psychological Skills Training
Goal Setting – Psychological Skills Training
Concentration – Psychological Skills Training