What is Sports Psychology?

I’ve often been asked, “What is sports psychology.” The technical answer to this question is this: Sport psychology is the scientific study of people and their behaviors in sports activities and the practical application of that knowledge. In sport psychology it’s important to understand how psychological factors affect an athletes physical performance and to understand how participation in sport affects a person psychological development.

The less technical version is this:

Everything we do in life takes thought and includes emotion. For example, even once you learned  how to physically drive a car as you continued to get better at driving you developed better focus, you got better at dealing with anxiety situations (close call accidents) and at dealing with negative thoughts you may have about other drivers (and how they drive).  When it comes to sports, athletes don’t always do the mental work necessary to reach their goals and their potential. Not surprising, really, because as kids we aren’t taught that there is thought and emotion in sport; we just go out and do it!

As someone who works with athletes I specialize in breaking emotional patterns that hold athletes back from achieving their best. I have successfully coached hundreds of athletes to overcome anxiety, fear and mental blocks to get more out of their training, obtain better results and lead more balanced lives.

When most athletes want to make a physical change, they focus on a training plan. Eventually the mind rebels and that’s what makes achieving your goals so difficult.

In sports it’s important to focus on making the mind your ally. My research and experience has proven that it’s necessary for lasting results.

Do you train harder and harder and don’t see the results? The reason could be (probably is) that improving your ‘game’ is not about physically working harder but enhancing your mental skills!

I believe that sport is 99% mental!

Dr. Michelle