In this brand-new edition, updated with material on today's best athletes, a top sports psychologist reveals the mental strategies champions use to win in a variety of sports-from cycling and skiing to golf and tennis
Mental Training for Peak Performance teaches you that sweat isn't enough. Before you can win on the track, court, links, or slopes, you have to win in your head. Revised and updated for the first time since 1996, famed sports psychologist Steven Ungerleider, PhD, looks at the mental aspect of sports performance today, revealing the mind exercises champion athletes use to outshine the competition.
The book provides detailed descriptions of mental techniques that work, explaining how to:
o build confidence with affirmations and self-talk o clear your mind with breathing and meditation o maximize performance with mental snapshots o improve your game with guided imagery o use visual rehearsal to fine-tune your style o tap in to the power of dreams
With a new foreword by tennis coach Nick Bollettieri, who has trained Andre Agassi, the Williams sisters, and many other star players, this is an excellent resource and guide for athletes at every level who hope to gain a competitive edge through mental training.
| Acknowledgments | ||
| Introduction | ||
| Ch. 1 | What Mental Training Can Do for You | 2 |
| Ch. 2 | Mental Training Secrets of Competitive Athletes | 9 |
| Ch. 3 | Build Confidence with Affirmations and Self-Talk | 16 |
| Ch. 4 | Clear Your Mind with Breathing and Meditation | 22 |
| Ch. 5 | Maximize Performance with Mental Snapshots | 28 |
| Ch. 6 | Relax to Cool Down - And Rev Up | 35 |
| Ch. 7 | Improve Your Game with Guided Imagery | 41 |
| Ch. 8 | Use Visual Rehearsal to Fine-Tune Your Style | 51 |
| Ch. 9 | Tap Into the Power of Dreams | 56 |
| Ch. 10 | Get Psyched without Losing Your Edge | 62 |
| Ch. 11 | Cycling: Improve Your Style and Power | 70 |
| Ch. 12 | Downhill Skiing: See - Then Ski - Clean Runs | 83 |
| Ch. 13 | Golf: Set the Stage for Excellence | 93 |
| Ch. 14 | Marathoning: Run Your Best Race Ever | 101 |
| Ch. 15 | Mountain Biking: Convert Fear into Power and Precision | 114 |
| Ch. 16 | Running on Road and Track: Optimize Your Performance | 124 |
| Ch. 17 | Swimming and Diving: Perfect Your Performance in the Pool | 134 |
| Ch. 18 | Tennis: Keep Your Cool on the Court | 146 |
| Ch. 19 | Volleyball: Correct the Flaws in Your Game | 158 |
| Ch. 20 | Weight Training: Reach Your Power Summit | 167 |
| Ch. 21 | A Mental Practice Formula for Any Sport | 176 |
| Index | 187 |
Overview
In this brand-new edition, updated with material on today's best athletes, a top sports psychologist reveals the mental strategies champions use to win in a variety of sports-from cycling and skiing to golf and tennis
Mental Training for Peak Performance teaches you that sweat isn't enough. Before you can win on the track, court, links, or slopes, you have to win in your head. Revised and updated for the first time since 1996, famed sports psychologist Steven Ungerleider, PhD, ...