The hope is that we can learn from each others' experiences. As the assistant men s basketball coach at Tufts University the past three seasons, I have seen up close the significance of the mental aspect of sport. This last question is often neglected by coaches who feel that mental training should not be a priority in how they allot practice time. However, some coaches stubbornly claim that sports psych sessions are too touchy feely or that they might make their athletes soft. Nothing could be farther from the truth.
Mental training is an opportunity for coaches to help their athletes become tougher .
Through practice, qualified sports psychologists can help players improve their concentration, resilience, consistency, confidence, and in turn, their performance. Team dynamics can be addressed through team building activities that promote cohesiveness, building trust amongst the players and for the coach who has supported these sessions. Research supports the need to include mental training in a good practice. Another positive byproduct of devoting time to mental training in practice is that it provides a break from the physical pounding of a long season. In so doing, it s a great way for a coach to show he cares about his players physical condition, and to show your support of mental training.