Volume 1, Number 1
Home | Previous Editions of the Edge

Mental Training Myths and Truths

What's the first thing you think of when you hear the term "sport psychology?" Do you imagine a creepy doctor with a cardigan sweater and a pipe scribbling notes while you lie on a couch and talk about your mother or father? Unfortunately, the science of sport psychology carries some negative images among those who are not familiar with its practice. This article challenges some of the "myths" of mental training and outlines some "truths" about sport psychology. Armed with a clearer understanding of what sport psychology and mental training is and is not, you can take full advantage of what it may have to offer for you.

Myth # 1 - The only athletes who need mental training are "head cases." In other words, normal athletes don't need sport psychology.

The truth is that all athletes can probably benefit from mental training, although not all in the same way. Some athletes benefit from clarifying their goals, others may benefit from learning to relax their body during recovery times, while still others may benefit from developing pre-performance routines. Most elite athletes realize that they must train their mind as well as their body to achieve success.

Myth #2 - Mental training is only a "band-aid" to help an athlete in a slump or a team stuck in a losing streak.

Although some athletes experience success from a "one-shot" approach, more consistent performance enhancement effects are found through systematic practice of mental skills. In this sense, mental training can be viewed as "preventive medicine." Athletes often find that developing skills to maintain confidence during a slump or refocus when the "wheels fall off" ensures that these unwanted occurrences won't happen. Expect the best, prepare for the worst!

Myth #3 - Sport psychologists don't know much about sport and cannot identify with athletes.

On the contrary, most sport psychologists became interested in the field through their own experiences as athletes or coaches. They understand the dynamics of sport and relate with athletes because of this knowledge. All of the staff assistants currently working with Husky Sport Psychology Services have a minimum of two years experience working with Division I college athletes. Their work is supervised by Ron Smith, Ph.D., and Frank Smoll, Ph.D., of the UW Psychology Department who both have years of experience working with athletes and coaches at all levels.

Myth #4 - Mental training is "voodoo magic" or "pop psychology."

Although sport psychology is a relatively new field, there is an ever-growing research base that demonstrates the effectiveness of psychological skills training. This allows sport psychologists to apply and refine certain techniques that will benefit different types of athletes in different types of situations. In fact, Husky student-athletes may have the opportunity to contribute to this knowledge base by participating in intervention studies.

Myth #5 - Sport psychologists are only interested in finding out what's wrong with athletes.

The opposite is true. Mental skills consultants teach athletes the skills of "right thinking," realizing their potential as an athlete and not getting bogged down on what the athlete is doing incorrectly.

Myth #6 - I don't have time to try mental training.

With two consultants on staff, we can accommodate almost any schedule. Often, significant results can be enjoyed with only a few meetings each quarter, although we never require you to commit to any number of meetings (really...we mean it). Most mental training "homework" does not add any time to your schedule, but can be implemented during practices and work-outs.

Mental training has a lot to offer performers at all levels. In addition, psychological skills are easily transferred to other areas of life, such as test taking, interviewing, and relationships. Please contact any of the HSPS staff assistants for more information or for help with your own mental training.