Elite sport can be an unforgiving and harsh environment. This book explores psychological predictors of wellbeing and performance excellence in elite level athletes, and presents an innovative approach for optimizing mental wellbeing and sporting performance. Jointly developed by performance psychologists, clinical psychologists and sport scientists the Flexible Mind approach draws on contemporary psychological theory and research to help athletes build ‘psychological flexibility’...

This book describes the methods and mental skills necessary for optimal performance in individual and team sports. Forty brief chapters representing such topics as attention and concentration, goal-setting, imagery, mental preparation, and mental toughness are covered. The book will be of interest to coaches, college and club level athletes, high school players, and athletes' parents

***Why do the smartest students often do poorly on standardized tests?Why did you tank that interview or miss that golf swing when you should have had it in the bag?Why do you mess up when it matters the most—and how can you perform your best instead?***It happens to all of us. You’ve prepared for days, weeks, even years for the big day when you will finally show your stuff—in academics, in your career, in sports—but when the big moment arrives, nothing seems to wor...

One of the world’s most innovative and respected cognitive neuroscientists combines cutting-edge research with unique exercises to help you improve the most powerful, most staggeringly complex machine ever created: your brain.In Make Your Brain Smarter, renowned cognitive neuroscientist Dr. Sandra Bond Chapman introduces you to the very latest research in brain science and shows you how to tailor a program to strengthen your brain’s capacity to think smart...

Think about your favourite sport. Now ask yourself how much of success in that sport is down to physical skills and how much is down to mental skills?We all know that physical skills are vital for performance and understand about training them. We know that psychology is important too, but what people actually do to understand and train in it is less well known. Sport Psychology: A complete introduction gives you the answers, explaining ev...

The definitive, practical handbook on positive psychology and character strengths for practitioners working in coaching, psychology, education, and business – start using strengths today! This book is the epitome of positive psychology: it takes the "backbone" of positive psychology – character strengths – and builds a substantive bridge between the science and practice. Working with client's (and our own) character strengths boosts well-being, fosters resilience, improves relationships, a...

Developing the skills of listening, learning, caring and counselling requires professional support and training. This authoritative, comprehensive guide fills that role, and is for the reference shelves of health and related professionals. Issues including depression, relationship concerns, addiction and grief are dealt with and numerous therapies and their techniques are described. The extensive case studies, skills and tips for everyday practice make it a practical, user-friendly resourc...

Coaching is one of the most sought-after leadership skills - vital for anyone who wants to develop a team of people who will perform effectively, but are also motivated and relish working together. It's also a dynamic discipline which, in recent years, has developed and grown to embrace theory and practice from a wide range of other disciplines, frameworks and models.Mastering Coaching starts by asking what skills an effective coach must now possess to boost the performanc...

SPORT AND EXERCISE PSYCHOLOGICAL"This book is a joy to read and greatly needed. The overall scholarly quality is very strong, and the chapters are clear, accessible, helpful and interesting - a rare combination. There are few texts that examine sport and exercise from a practitioner’s perspective, and fewer that help students and trainees navigate the complex terrain of practice. The editors should be congratulated on pulling together a book that educates, inspires...

In this fresh and engaging introduction to sports coaching, Lynn Kidman and Stephanie Hanrahan guide students through the coaching process. Focusing on the practical aspects of sports coaching, the book helps students to develop their basic technical skills as well as strategies for working with individual and team athletes, and to plan and implement effective coaching sessions.The book develops an "athlete-centred approach" to sports coaching, by which athletes take ownership of t...

This comprehensive and accessible resource can be used as textbook or a self-help book and is aimed at students, athletes, coaches, sport scientists or indeed any-one looking to enhance their performance, whatever their sport or activity.The psychological concepts may even be useful for those working in business. It covers the key topics in sport psychology, but also addresses current issues such as talent identification, mental toughness, risk taking, stress manag...

Sport Psychology is an introductory account of the major psychological issues in sport today. Major theories and up-to-date research are covered in the areas of personality, attitudes to sport, aggression in sport, anxiety and stress, social influences, motivation, and skill acquisition. A wide variety of sporting examples are used, ranging from football to ballet.