What is
Mental Performance Training
What is mental performance training, how it can benefit athletes, and what the research says.
Mental performance training…
Is a component of sport psychology where we assess, measure, practice, and implement different mental skills - whether it be honing in on an athlete’s already present strengths, or focusing on areas of growth.
What the research says:
Studies show that mental (or psychological) skills training, by working with a mental performance consultant and implementing intentional practice for these skills, significantly increases athletes’ abilities to manage stress/anxiety, be more mentally resilient, cope with emotions, motivation, self-confidence, and mindfulness. An increase in these areas can ultimately lead to improved performance. Research also shows that athletes who work with a mental performance consultant who utilizes mindfulness and positive psychology, like we do at COGNELITE, improves athletes’ quality of life.
Park I, Jeon J. Psychological Skills Training for Athletes in Sports: Web of Science Bibliometric Analysis. Healthcare (Basel). 2023 Jan 13;11(2):259. doi: 10.3390/healthcare11020259. PMID: 36673627; PMCID: PMC9859147.
What are some specific mental performance skills?
Mental performance skills, or psychological skills, are different skills, tools, and techniques that your brain uses, whether you recognize it or not, to either hurt or enhance performance.
Examples of different mental performance skills that mental performance training can target include:
▶︎ Confidence
▶︎ Motivation
▶︎ Growth Mindset
▶︎ Consistency
▶︎ Communication
▶︎ Focus/Attention
▶︎ Mind-Body Connection
▶︎ Stress/Fear/Anxiety Management
▶︎ Handling Pressure
▶︎ Leadership
… and so many more.
▶︎ Emotion Regulation
▶︎ Mindfulness
▶︎ Goal Setting
▶︎ Teamwork
▶︎ Imagery/Visualization