For the past five years beginning in May of 2011, I’ve been writing a series on Psychological Skills Training for pelinks4u.org (now pheamerica). I’ve shared ideas about how to train athletes and coaches to be mentally tough.

This past fall I took a sabbatical from my university teaching job and worked full-time with our school’s athletic coaches and athletes. In trying to assist coaches and athletes improve their mental toughness I applied a lot of what I’d written. In this essay I’m going to share some of the lessons I learned.

Lessons Learned

Continuing our Psychological Skills Training series in pelinks4u, Part II of Communication (See October 2015 for Part I) is written to assist coaches in improving their skills or can be used as an in-service with a group of coaches.

Attentive Listening

Listening skills are critical for good communication. It is important to assess listening skills prior to helping athletes and coaches build more effective methods of listening. The “Listening Skills Test” will be completed by each athlete and coach. Then the athlete or coach will request input on his or her listening behaviors from a friend or family member.

Continuing our Psychological Skills Training series in pelinks4u, this month’s article is written to help coaches improve their communication skills. If you coach you can use this information to improve your own communication skills. If you are responsible for preparing others to coach, use the following notes as the basis for leading an in-service training experience.

Introduction to Coaches:

• Communication skills may be the best predictor of coaching success.
• Coaches talk, read, write, gesture, listen, teach, console, persuade, demonstrate and observe.
• Coaches communicate with athletes, parents, administrators, officials, other coaches, athletic trainers, the media, support staff, fundraisers, etc.
• Common communication mistakes include:
  • Making comments you regret
  • Expecting others to read your mind
  • Talking more than listen
  • Expecting athletes to respond well to criticism while not being open to feedback yourself
  • Assuming you know what someone else is thinking and/or feeling

Continuing our Psychological Skills Training series in pelinks4u, this month’s article focuses on sportsmanship. Use “site search” to locate previous articles and also see the list included in this article.

Bring to practice:

• Copies of the athlete handout
• Pencils
• Yardstick

Continuing our Psychological Skills Training series in pelinks4u, this month’s article focuses on developing a warm-up routine prior to competition as well as an abbreviated routine to be used during breaks in competition. Previously learned skills will be utilized and can be accessed from the pelinks4u archives: Getting Loose (Dec. 2011), Breathing Easy (Feb. 2013), Staying on the Ball (June/July 2013), Mental Rehearsal I (Dec. 2013) and Body Rehearsal (June/July 2014).

Pre-Game, Pre-Play Drills

Bring to practice: Copies of this document to give to athletes

Continuing our Psychological Skills Training series in pelinks4u, this article focuses on getting the most out of the physical motions of sport by paying attention to how the motion feels. To focus on how the motion feels, we will utilize previously learned skills you can access from the pelinks4u archives: Getting Loose (Dec. 2011), Breathing Easy (Feb. 2013), Staying on the Ball (June/July 2013) & Mental Rehearsal I (Dec. 2013). I am sharing a coach’s script you can use with your athletes, and a handout for athletes to use when practicing at home.

Psychological Skills Training series: previous issues

1. Training Your Athletes to be Mentally Tough
2. Mental Training Tools
3. Goal Setting and Self-Confidence
4. Imagery
5. Relaxation and Energization
6. Self-Talk Skills
7. Energy Management
8. Stress Management Skills
9. Breathing Easy Drill
10. Staying on the Ball Drill
11. Mental Rehearsal, Phase I
12. Mental Rehearsal, Phase II

Coach’s Script: Body Rehearsal

Bring to Practice: coach’s script, copies of the athlete’s handout.

Continuing our Psychological Skills Training series in pelinks4u, this month’s article is the second in a two-part series on Mental Rehearsal (1st part December 2013). Today’s article combines previously learned skills that can be accessed from the pelinks4u archives (links below). A coach’s script and a handout for athletes to use when practicing at home are provided.

Psychological Skills Training series: previous issues

1. Training Your Athletes to be Mentally Tough
2. Mental Training Tools
3. Goal Setting and Self-Confidence
4. Imagery
5. Relaxation and Energization
6. Self-Talk Skills
7. Energy Management
8. Stress Management Skills
9. Breathing Easy Drill
10. Staying on the Ball Drill
11. Mental Rehearsal, Phase I

Coach’s Script for Mental Rehearsal: Phase II

Bring to practice: Coach’s script, copies of the athlete’s handout, balls or other items connected with your sport, pencils or pens, dry board markers or chalk.