Tiger Woods has one. So does Andre Agassi. Almost every college pro team, major league pro sports team and Olympic team has one. Virtually every pro golfer and pro tennis player has one.
What do they have?
A Mental Game Coach.
These top sports stars are smart. They're good already. Even great. Some are all-stars and superstars. Why do "they" have a mind coach? They want to maintain their excellence. And, they want to get better. They want every edge they can get, because they know their opponents have this mental advantage.
I coach top corporate America executives, and you can turn on the TV and see the top college sports stars and major-league pro sports stars I coach. This article will help you learn what a Mental Game Coach does for these peak performers, and about how you can choose the right mind game coach.
Did you know there are at least 25 types of mind practitioners? The term mind practitioner itself is a very broad one. Maybe you're looking for a mental health professional. Perhaps someone to help you in business. Maybe you want to reduce stress, stop a bad habit and overcome a fear or phobia. Maybe you need to perform better on the presentation platform or in the competitive sports arena and avoid the dreaded choke. Maybe you want to learn how to get in the zone more often, on command. Whatever your reason for seeking a coach, they all, to one degree or another, help you train your brain. Find your mind. Get your motivation in motion.
The mental game encompasses every mind issue you can imagine in business, sports and life.
A mental game coach can help you in these arenas:
1. Awareness
2. Learning
3. Development
4. Change
5. Habit Formation
6. Performance
7. Coaching, Mentoring, Managing and Leading
Mental Game Coaches are particularly skilled at helping you with these critical performance issues:
1. Anxiety
2. Choking
3. Focus
4. Sales Rejection Issues
5. Telephone Call Reluctance
6. Goal-Setting and Achievement
7. Perfectionism
8. Procrastination
9. Mental Preparation
10. Mental Practice
11. Self-Discipline
12. Getting In The Zone
13. Slumps and Confidence
14. Hecklers And Psych-Outs
15. Performing Under Pressure
16. The Fear Of Success
17. The Fear Of Failure
18. The Imposter Syndrome
FIVE SPECIFIC MIND TOOLS AND TECHNIQUES COACHES USE
The public is usually aware of these five major mind coaching tools. These techniques are not tied to any one particular school of coaching or therapy. Practitioners from virtually every discipline utilize these.
1. Positive Thinking
2. Mental Practice
3. Visualization
4. Self-Hypnosis
5. Cognitive Restructuring
MAKE YOUR MIND COACH SELECTION CAREFULLY AND WISELY
When selecting your mind coach, take your time. One size does not fit all. Each coach has different limitations and plusses, and not all coach background and training is equal. Not all coaches trained the same have the same abilities and capabilities. As an MD friend is fond of telling people who ask, "Even the last person to graduate in the medical school class is called "Doctor".
Some coach training is narrow and deep and some coach training is broad and general. The field is a wide one, so make sure you select someone who has had successful experience in helping people with your specific issues, desires and goals. Choose a practitioner on background, reputation and results, not merely degrees. Chemistry and trust are the two final vital issues on which to measure your potential coach.
Good luck in your coach-hunting!
This article covers only one small part of the mental game. A complete mental training program includes motivation and goal-setting, pre-event mental preparation, post-event review and analysis, mental strengthening, self-regulation training, breath control training, motor skill training, mental rehearsal, concentration training, pressure-proofing, communication training, confidence-building, breaking through mental barriers, slump prevention, mental toughness training, flow training, relaxation training, momentum training, psych-out proofing and media training.
For a comprehensive overview of your mental abilities you need an assessment instrument that identifies your complete mental strengths and weaknesses. For a free, easy-to-take 65-item sport psychology assessment tool you can score right on the spot, visit http://www.mentalgamecoach.com/Assessments/MentalGameOfSports.html This assessment gives you a quick snapshot of your strengths and weaknesses in your mental game. You can use this as a guide in creating your own mental training program, or as the basis for a program you undertake with Bill Cole, MS, MA to improve your mental game. This assessment would be an excellent first step to help you get the big picture about your mental game.
Copyright © Bill Cole, MS, MA 2006 All rights reserved.
Bill Cole, MS, MA is one of the world's leading mental game coaches who consults with athletes of all levels including children, amateurs and professionals. Mr. Cole is the founder and President of the International Mental Game Coaching Association, the global leader in certification of mental game coaches. Read over 400 free articles on sports psychology at http://www.mentalgamecoaching.com/index.html or call 408-294-2776 for more information.
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