Self-talk — the “verbalizations or statements addressed to the self” (Hardy 2006, p. 84) — has been widely examined in sport psychology. Self-talk can be positive or negative, spoken aloud/externally or silently/internally, and be instructional or motivational. The research literature has shown that “self-talk is beneficial for athletic performance” (Tod, Hardy & Oliver … [Read more...] about How Do You Use Self-Talk to Improve Performance?
Life
Can Self-Compassion Make You a Better Athlete?
Athletes can be hard on themselves. Have you ever finished a race or training session with words of self-criticism flowing through your inner dialogue? If so, you’re not alone. The culture of sport often revolves around the assumption that harsh criticism is necessary to motivate athletes in the face of poor performance. A growing body of research in psychology, … [Read more...] about Can Self-Compassion Make You a Better Athlete?
The ABCs of Prioritizing Races and Setting Race Goals
When it comes to setting your racing goals simply remember your ABCs. Before the season starts, identify the main races you want to target and prioritize those races using these ABCs: A-priority races: The one to three most important races of the season. Training will be designed around these races to allow you to peak for them. Ideally, these will occur together in a … [Read more...] about The ABCs of Prioritizing Races and Setting Race Goals
After Setting Your Goals, Now What?
Establishing an ambitious set of goals for the season can sometimes feel like an accomplishment in its own right. But setting your goals is only the first step toward achieving those goals. So what’s next? 1. Make those goals a priority Once you’ve set your goals it’s time to make those goals a priority. That means eradicating those attractive (but inevitably … [Read more...] about After Setting Your Goals, Now What?
Begin it Now
“Whatever you can do, or dream you can do, begin it. Boldness has genius, power, and magic in it. Begin it now.” These lines, often attributed to Goethe, seem particularly appropriate as the calendar turns the page into the New Year. If you have had your sights set on a dream you have never quite been able to act upon, heed the call. Begin it. Begin it now. Here are three … [Read more...] about Begin it Now
