The Mental Edge

[philtenn]

My observation of recruiting is that you've got to have certain physical skills to be considered. However, it seems to me that girls that are not particularly physically gifted can still get a scholarship if they demonstrate strong mental skills. A great understanding of the game, the ability to keep your cool and keep your head in the game when things aren't going well, and strong leadership skills are all assets that someone with average athletic ability can learn and are very valued by college coaches. I've seen girls that I thought were not athletically gifted get the chance to play in college over a more athletic player basically due to the mental/emotional skills (and strong fundamentals).

 

Is this just my experience or have others seen this?

 

How well are girls being taught mental skills?

 

Do you believe that sometimes a specialist could be helpful in teaching mental skills and if it is helpful who are some good ones?

[jimbo44]

Do you believe that sometimes a specialist could be helpful in teaching mental skills and if it is helpful who are some good ones?

 

Do you need one?

[philtenn]

My observation of recruiting is that you've got to have certain physical skills to be considered. However, it seems to me that girls that are not particularly physically gifted can still get a scholarship if they demonstrate strong mental skills. A great understanding of the game, the ability to keep your cool and keep your head in the game when things aren't going well, and strong leadership skills are all assets that someone with average athletic ability can learn and are very valued by college coaches. I've seen girls that I thought were not athletically gifted get the chance to play in college over a more athletic player basically due to the mental/emotional skills (and strong fundamentals).

 

Is this just my experience or have others seen this?

 

How well are girls being taught mental skills?

 

Do you believe that sometimes a specialist could be helpful in teaching mental skills and if it is helpful who are some good ones?

 

Actually, I am one.

[BigDaddy_1]

Actually, I am one.

 

Are you advertising?

[philtenn]

Are you advertising?

 

Nope. I'd like to know what the opinions are out there concerning sport psychology - it's importance, whether there is any focus on it in programs, and who is considered to be good at it or helpful in the area.

 

I'm not giving out my name, office address, phone number, nothing like that at all. Just looking for opinions since it's an area that I am (of course) very interested in.

 

I'm especially interested in sports psychology for children and adolescents because that's a group that can be hurt if it is used without recognizing the fact that these are developing human beings, not just developing competitors.

 

I'm hoping to learn some things.

[Dragonmaster]

Phil,

 

I personally think there is a branch sport Psychology that is unattended. Being a sports parent. Having coached for 26 years, officiated in some form for 33 years, and being the parent of a college level athlete, parental attitudes toward sport competition of their children generally leaves much to be desired. I firmly believe that all schools and major competitive programs have a mandatory course or set of courses, based on level of competition, on what is expected of parents and what will be accepted. You can call me about it you have my #.

 

DM

[PHargis]

Nope. I'd like to know what the opinions are out there concerning sport psychology - it's importance, whether there is any focus on it in programs, and who is considered to be good at it or helpful in the area.

 

I'm not giving out my name, office address, phone number, nothing like that at all. Just looking for opinions since it's an area that I am (of course) very interested in.

 

I'm especially interested in sports psychology for children and adolescents because that's a group that can be hurt if it is used without recognizing the fact that these are developing human beings, not just developing competitors.

 

I'm hoping to learn some things.

PT, you would have been one of the last I would have seen this post. I would make a suggestion on contacting a College/University in your area with a winning program, Memphis State, and discuss it with the Coach or AD and get some suggestions there as to who is good at it or contact Coaches at MTSU, Vanderbilt, UTennessee, Arkansas, Mississippi. DM, I'm sure, has some good names. Making those contacts first will give you some place to start. Others that might be considered are Retail Sports Organizatgions who deal primarily with conditioning and skill and performance which might be good. ETSU has an Olympic Traning area that has been mentioned on this site and has just been started the last couple of years and may have some excellent people but that is a little far from you but might be good. There are a couple of trainers in Memphis who might be good who are in high school who DM might have some knowledge of. They also have some ex olympians on some of their staffs, both genders.

[philtenn]

PT, you would have been one of the last I would have seen this post. I would make a suggestion on contacting a College/University in your area with a winning program, Memphis State, and discuss it with the Coach or AD and get some suggestions there as to who is good at it or contact Coaches at MTSU, Vanderbilt, UTennessee, Arkansas, Mississippi. DM, I'm sure, has some good names. Making those contacts first will give you some place to start. Others that might be considered are Retail Sports Organizatgions who deal primarily with conditioning and skill and performance which might be good. ETSU has an Olympic Traning area that has been mentioned on this site and has just been started the last couple of years and may have some excellent people but that is a little far from you but might be good. There are a couple of trainers in Memphis who might be good who are in high school who DM might have some knowledge of. They also have some ex olympians on some of their staffs, both genders.

 

Thanks PHargis. That's a lot of good information.

 

Just curious, but why would you be surprised that I would make such a post?

[philtenn]

Phil,

 

I personally think there is a branch sport Psychology that is unattended. Being a sports parent. Having coached for 26 years, officiated in some form for 33 years, and being the parent of a college level athlete, parental attitudes toward sport competition of their children generally leaves much to be desired. I firmly believe that all schools and major competitive programs have a mandatory course or set of courses, based on level of competition, on what is expected of parents and what will be accepted. You can call me about it you have my #.

 

DM

 

If I had it, I can't find it now. Can you send me a private email?