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Sport psychology: Training the mind for competition

  • Published:
Current Sports Medicine Reports

Abstract

An optimal psychologic state for peak athletic performance is strongly documented in the sport psychology literature. A wealth of peer-reviewed studies also strongly supports the role that mental skills training (MST) plays in the development of this state. However, some disagreement exists in the sport psychology community over how best to deliver the MST tools and skills necessary for optimal sport performance. Mental training consultants and intervention researchers have recently suggested that periodization of mental training may be the next major leap forward in applied sport psychology program delivery. This new method of “training the mind” is presented and discussed.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Physical Education, Health and Recreation, Eastern Washington University, PEB 200, 99004, Cheney, WA, USA

    Jon Hammermeister PhD

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  1. Jon Hammermeister PhD
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  2. Shannon VonGuenthner MS
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Hammermeister, J., VonGuenthner, S. Sport psychology: Training the mind for competition. Curr Sports Med Rep 4, 160–164 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11932-005-0061-1

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