The Sport Psychology Of

Performance anxiety, the enemy of so many athletes who are striving for greatness, takes the confidence, and ultimately, fun, out of anyone’s sport. Fortunately, there are plenty of ways to chip away at this detrimental consequence of the mind. Dr. Jim Taylor is here to provide an abundance of tangible ways to reduce performance anxiety. Before that, we discuss the ways in which the mind is susceptible to performance anxiety. Dr. Jim Taylor is considered one of the world’s leading authorities on the psychology of sports performance. He holds a PhD in Psychology and works with professional, collegiate, junior, and age-group athletes in many sports. He is the author of 19 books, including Train Your Mind for Athletic Success, and his blog posts have been viewed by more than 10 million people.  To learn more, you can visit his website, www.drjimtaylor.com, or follow him on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. You can also head to my website, www.zelicoperformance.com if you’re interested in mental performance consulting for individuals or teams. Timestamps are below, enjoy! (00:00) Introduction (01:45) Introduction to Dr. Jim Taylor (05:22) What is anxiety? (10:03) The mind is not tangible (13:40) Toolbox for the mind (17:31) Mental training tools to relax; “psych-down” tools (23:02) Unhealthy attitudes, perfectionism, and expectations; losing before you’ve begun (36:09) Difficulty changing attitudes (39:15) Coaches’ influence on performance anxiety (41:05) Training/performance environment’s influence on performance anxiety (47:29) Journaling (51:55) Dr. Taylor’s non-negotiables in mental training (53:30 Practicing imagery/visualization (01:04:51) Self-talk best practices (01:19:39) Awareness over mindfulness (01:22:42) Routines (01:30:39) Closing notes on performance anxiety (01:31:57) Outro -- See highlights from every episode on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and stay up to date by following The Sport Psychology Of on your podcast platform. If you want to start working on your mental game, try out 1 on 1 sport psychology coaching with me, Gabe Zelico, by visiting my website ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.zelicoperformance.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠schedule a free introductory call⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ where we’ll discuss your goals, obstacles to success, and determine if we’d be a good fit to move forward.  You can also email me directly at gabriel@zelicoperformance.com regarding private coaching or the podcast. Music by Ben Zelico. Disclaimer: The Sport Psychology Of podcast is for general informational purposes only and does not represent mental health care services, including the giving of mental health care advice. The use of information on this podcast or materials linked from this podcast is at the user’s own risk. The content of this podcast is not intended to be a substitute for professional mental health care advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Users should not disregard or delay in obtaining mental health care for any condition they may have and should seek the assistance of their health care professionals for any such conditions.

Artificial intelligence (AI) has entered the world of many careers, but few understand its impact in sports, particularly, mental performance. With AI increasing efficiency all over the workplace, how can AI be leveraged to help athletes optimize their mental game?  Joining me today is the perfect guest for this topic, Dr. Ford Dyke, a Human Performance Optimization subject-matter expert. Dr. Dyke collaborates globally with high-level performers such as corporate executives, elite athletes, physicians, first responders, and military personnel. His methodology integrates components of his Professorship, 7-year career as a Team USA Athlete, and experience as a Performance Coach for Auburn Wheelchair Basketball and the United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee. Dr. Dyke's education, professional experience, and personal journey led to the creation of perfor[Hu]mance.® | A multidimensional space for The Human Experience. In this episode, You’ll hear about the pros and cons of AI mental performance coaching and how it specifically works. To learn more about Dr. Ford Dyke and his contact information, visit https://www.forddyke.com/ Dr. Dyke's LinkedIn Enjoy! -- See highlights from every episode on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and stay up to date by following The Sport Psychology Of on your podcast platform. If you want to start working on your mental game, try out 1 on 1 sport psychology coaching with me, Gabe Zelico, by visiting my website ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.zelicoperformance.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠schedule a free introductory call⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ where we’ll discuss your goals, obstacles to success, and determine if we’d be a good fit to move forward.  You can also email me directly at gabriel@zelicoperformance.com regarding private coaching or the podcast. Music by Ben Zelico. Disclaimer: The Sport Psychology Of podcast is for general informational purposes only and does not represent mental health care services, including the giving of mental health care advice. The use of information on this podcast or materials linked from this podcast is at the user’s own risk. The content of this podcast is not intended to be a substitute for professional mental health care advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Users should not disregard or delay in obtaining mental health care for any condition they may have and should seek the assistance of their health care professionals for any such conditions.

Athletes, Coaches and scouts agree that being a gritty player bumps up their value as an athlete. What remains then, is whether or not grit is something athletes are born with or is it a quality they can train, and if so, what specific techniques are effective? Joining me today is Will Johnston, a former basketball player for Virginia Tech, a retired US Navy SEAL, and a mental performance coach. The perfect background in a guest to talk all things grit.  He’s passionate about using his background/personal experiences as an athlete & a military special operator, along with his Master’s degree in Sport & Performance Psychology, to equip athletes, working professionals, and performers across all domains with the mental tools and strategies that lead to success and fulfillment.In this episode, you’ll come to understand grit more clearly and learn concrete ways to enhance it. Enjoy! Connect with Will through his LinkedIn -- See highlights from every episode on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and stay up to date by following The Sport Psychology Of on your podcast platform. If you want to start working on your mental game, try out 1 on 1 sport psychology coaching with me, Gabe Zelico, by visiting my website ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.zelicoperformance.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠schedule a free introductory call⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ where we’ll discuss your goals, obstacles to success, and determine if we’d be a good fit to move forward.  You can also email me directly at gabriel@zelicoperformance.com regarding private coaching or the podcast. Music by Ben Zelico. Disclaimer: The Sport Psychology Of podcast is for general informational purposes only and does not represent mental health care services, including the giving of mental health care advice. The use of information on this podcast or materials linked from this podcast is at the user’s own risk. The content of this podcast is not intended to be a substitute for professional mental health care advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Users should not disregard or delay in obtaining mental health care for any condition they may have and should seek the assistance of their health care professionals for any such conditions.

Every sport has its own version of a shot clock to induce stress and anxiety, or focus and a flow state. Whether you sink or swim under that pressure largely depends on the strength of your mental game. Welcome to the sport psychology of, I’m Gabe Zelico. Today, we’re breaking down the sport psychology of shot clocks. For the first time, 2 guests will be joining me today - Aren Ulmer and Dave Laughlin, who work at Courtex Performance. Aren, a former collegiate athlete and coach, delivers training and coaching to boost personal empowerment and drive team performance. He specializes in the development of the whole person to enhance wellness and human performance. His client list includes NCAA and NBA athletes and coaches, international professionals, executives, and educators. Aren earned his Master’s in Applied Sport and Performance Psychology from Holy Names University and is pursuing a Doctorate of Psychology with an emphasis in Sports and Performance from the University of Arizona Global Campus.   Dave is currently the director of assessment and skill acquisition for Courtex Performance, where he helps athletes, coaches, and organizations perform to their potential more consistently. In his role with Courtex, Dave has worked with clients in the MLB, NBA, OLY, and NCAA. His specialties include athlete profiling, mental skills training, and practice design to improve learning and performance.  Dave has a Ph.D in sport psychology and motor behavior from the University of Tennessee and spent a decade as a university professor prior to his current roles. Prior to his work within the field of mental performance, he played college baseball at William Jewell College (Liberty, Missouri) and coached baseball at the youth, high school, and collegiate levels.  Links are below. Enjoy! http://www.courtexperformance.com/ @courtexperformance Aren's Instagram Aren's LinkedIn Dave's Email: dave@courtexperformance.com Dave's LinkedIn -- See highlights from every episode on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and stay up to date by following The Sport Psychology Of on your podcast platform. If you want to start working on your mental game, try out 1 on 1 sport psychology coaching with me, Gabe Zelico, by visiting my website ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.zelicoperformance.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠schedule a free introductory call⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ where we’ll discuss your goals, obstacles to success, and determine if we’d be a good fit to move forward.  You can also email me directly at gabriel@zelicoperformance.com regarding private coaching or the podcast. Music by Ben Zelico. Disclaimer: The Sport Psychology Of podcast is for general informational purposes only and does not represent mental health care services, including the giving of mental health care advice. The use of information on this podcast or materials linked from this podcast is at the user’s own risk. The content of this podcast is not intended to be a substitute for professional mental health care advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Users should not disregard or delay in obtaining mental health care for any condition they may have and should seek the assistance of their health care professionals for any such conditions.

Addiction is on a spectrum, and prevalent for everyone, especially for those in pursuit of performing at their best on a consistent basis. Welcome to the sport psychology of, I’m Gabe Zelico. Today, we’re breaking down the sport psychology of addiction. Dr. Justin Jacques joins the podcast to discuss topics like different forms of addiction, how even minor forms can impact performance, how one’s mindset influences addiction patterns, and some client stories. Dr. Justin Jacques is a Licensed Professional Counselor, Certified Addiction Counselor II, Nationally Certified Counselor, and Approved Clinical Supervisor. He is also completing his Certified Mental Performance Consultant certification from the Association for Applied Sport Psychology. Currently, Justin is in private practice as mental performance coach at Human Theory Group. He is also the Chief Clinical Officer at Technotherapy, a group private practice. Recently he completed a Ph.D. in counseling at Oregon State University.  We take this discussion through many different avenues that touch on the depth addiction brings. Timestamps are below, enjoy! (00:00) Episode Introduction (01:30) Introduction to Dr. Justin Jacques (02:37) Defining addiction (04:04) Different forms of addiction (06:00) How minor addictions can impact performance (08:24) Sleep and mental health (10:15) Why is moderation so difficult? (14:58) How long does it take to break an addiction? (17:57) specific ways to boost hormones (22:27) Lost connections can lead to addiction (23:15) Addiction impacting performance mid-game (25:13) The addiction spiral as a result of performing poorly(27:14) Lacking social support through addiction (28:55) Genetics influence addictive behavior (31:28) Aggressive reactions from trying to help others (34:18) Client story (36:42) How prevalent is addiction in sports? (42:29) Mood trackers can be misleading (45:49) Overlap between athletic personality and addictive behaviors? (46:58) Fixed v. Growth Mindset’s relationship with addiction (51:53) Proactive ways to manage or prevent addiction (54:36) Education on addictive mechanisms (57:05) Parents restricting their kids' access to social media (01:01:08) Doing internal work to manage addiction (01:02:39) Working on your mental health/mental performance does not mean things are going poorly (01:04:59) A break might be necessary for athletes experiencing severe mental health concerns (01:06:58) Outro ⁠https://www.humantheorygroup.com/ ⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/justin-jacques-ph-d-lpc-a6388711/ ⁠⁠https://www.threads.net/@humantheorygroup?hl=en ⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100077667843077 ⁠⁠https://twitter.com/HumanTheoryGro ⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/humantheorygroup/⁠ -- See highlights from every episode on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and stay up to date by following The Sport Psychology Of on your podcast platform. If you want to start working on your mental game, try out 1 on 1 sport psychology coaching with me, Gabe Zelico, by visiting my website ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.zelicoperformance.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠schedule a free introductory call⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ where we’ll discuss your goals, obstacles to success, and determine if we’d be a good fit to move forward.  You can also email me directly at gabriel@zelicoperformance.com regarding private coaching or the podcast. Music by Ben Zelico. Disclaimer: The Sport Psychology Of podcast is for general informational purposes only and does not represent mental health care services, including the giving of mental health care advice. The use of information on this podcast or materials linked from this podcast is at the user’s own risk. The content of this podcast is not intended to be a substitute for professional mental health care advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Users should not disregard or delay in obtaining mental health care for any condition they may have and should seek the assistance of their health care professionals for any such conditions.

What exercise takes the prize for being most frequently suggested to reduce stress, and so abstract most people don’t understand how it impacts the brain? Welcome to the sport psychology of - today, we’re talking about the sport psychology of meditation. Pete Kadushin, Ph.D., CMPC, is the mental performance coach for the Chicago Blackhawks. Pete’s work focuses on two key areas of growth: helping people dial in their ability to learn and refine lessons quickly, and increasing their capacity to apply those lessons under pressure, and he believes that tools like self-reflection, breath work, and meditation are invaluable as people walk this path. Timestamps are below, enjoy! (00:00) Episode Introduction (01:34) Introduction to Dr. Pete Kadushin (05:15) What is meditation, and why do it? (13:42) Meditation trains your awareness of performance damaging thoughts (19:58) Can humans multitask? (23:00) Different ways to meditate through the senses (49:45) Examples of pro athletes meditating (54:21) How to start meditating (01:03:34) How coaches can implement meditation into team training (01:08:04) Outro Follow @thesportpsychologyof on ⁠Instagram⁠, ⁠Twitter⁠, and ⁠TikTok⁠. Find us on ⁠Youtube⁠ to watch clips from each episode, including video.  Email Gabe at gabriel@zelicoperformance.com for any feedback or questions regarding the podcast. Interested in taking your mental game to the next level? Try out 1 on 1 sport psychology coaching with me, Gabe Zelico, by visiting my website: ⁠www.zelicoperformance.com⁠ and sign up for a free introductory call.  Disclaimer: The Sport Psychology Of podcast is for general informational purposes only and does not represent mental health care services, including the giving of mental health care advice. The use of information on this podcast or materials linked from this podcast is at the user’s own risk. The content of this podcast is not intended to be a substitute for professional mental health care advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Users should not disregard or delay in obtaining mental health care for any condition they may have and should seek the assistance of their health care professionals for any such conditions.

Do you ever have a loud inner critic that constantly wears down your self-esteem, and increases your self-doubt?  Is an athlete’s ability to talk themselves down from a negative, erratic mindset a sign of weakness, or evidence of mental toughness?  Welcome to the sport psychology of, I’m Gabe Zelico. Today, we’re breaking down the sport psychology of self-compassion. One of the researchers contributing to the literature on self-compassion is Dr Zoi Zompopoulou, a sport and exercise psychologist based in Edinburgh, Scotland, UK. She completed her doctoral studies at Glasgow Caledonian University. She is currently running her own sport & exercise psychology support business, Creative Sport Mind, and working as a psychology lecturer at Newbattle Academy College. In this episode, you’ll hear discussions around whether or not self-compassion can lead to complacency, tangible methods to develop self-compassion, Zoi’s doctoral research, and more. Enjoy! Timestamps: (00:00) Episode introduction (01:30) What is self-compassion? (06:24) Team culture amplifying inner critics (08:10) The difficulty of self-compassion (12:50) Does self-compassion equal weak-minded or soft? (16:43) Self-compassion and complacency  (21:23) Why are we more compassionate toward others than ourselves? (25:12) Positivity among teammates - team contract (27:57) Wrong ways to be self-compassionate (31:27) How self-compassion leads to mental toughness (32:58) Self-compassion reducing burnout symptoms (37:17) Self-compassionate athletes handling adversity (42:01) Self-compassion and motivation (43:51) Self-compassion as a life skill (46:56) Meditation, mindfulness, and visualizing (55:30) Reframing (01:02:28) Self-reflection and journaling (01:05:03) Client success: psychoeducation and evolutionary psychology (01:10:46) Outro Instagram @creativesportmind Website www.creativesportmind.com LinkedIn Dr Zoi Zompopoulou -- See highlights from every episode on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and stay up to date by following The Sport Psychology Of on your podcast platform. If you want to start working on your mental game, try out 1 on 1 sport psychology coaching with me, Gabe Zelico, by visiting my website ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.zelicoperformance.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠schedule a free introductory call⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ where we’ll discuss your goals, obstacles to success, and determine if we’d be a good fit to move forward.  You can also email me directly at gabriel@zelicoperformance.com regarding private coaching or the podcast. Music by Ben Zelico. Disclaimer: The Sport Psychology Of podcast is for general informational purposes only and does not represent mental health care services, including the giving of mental health care advice. The use of information on this podcast or materials linked from this podcast is at the user’s own risk. The content of this podcast is not intended to be a substitute for professional mental health care advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Users should not disregard or delay in obtaining mental health care for any condition they may have and should seek the assistance of their health care professionals for any such conditions.

In the NFL, you have an average of 18 million viewers watching you every game. Couple that with ample time in between opportunities to make an impact and the fate of the game oftentimes coming down to you, kickers feel the weight of the world on their shoulders. Trying to execute a field goal they’ve done hundreds, if not thousands of times, leaves the mental game an essential ingredient to their success. Welcome to the sport psychology of, I’m Gabe Zelico. Today, we’re breaking down the sport psychology of kicking field goals. Although we’ll discuss field goals for the duration of the episode, the same logic goes for PATs (point after touchdown).  I’m excited to introduce the guest for this episode, Austin Errthum, who double dips in experience both as a kicker and mental performance coach. Austin grew up in Kalona, a small town in southeast Iowa. He played division 1 soccer at Drake University and ended up transferring and trying out for the football team at the University of Northern Iowa (FCS). After a senior season where he lead the country in FG’s and touchbacks to become an All-American, he went to a mini-camp with KC Chiefs in 2019. He then went back to school and got a masters degree in Sport and Exercise Psychology. He opened his own mental training business called Errthum Performance to help others reach their goals and become 1% better in the mental game. He’s also the host of the podcast, The Kitchen Table. In this episode, you’ll hear the specific ways kickers’ anxiety is fueled, what to do if you’re feeling low in confidence, and tangible ways to apply mental skills. I also share a story of how the podcast was first thought up when we talk about the psychology of icing a kicker. Timestamps are below. Enjoy! (01:58) Introduction to Austin Errthum (11:19) Episode introduction (12:06) Anxiety of game-deciding field goals (19:11) Crowd distractions (22:41) Low confidence before a kick (28:46) Control (35:19) Icing the kicker (39:43) Justin Tucker post game-winning field goal interview break-down (42:34) Awareness (46:20) Visualization (52:50) Relaxation techniques; breathing (56:03) Routines (01:00:04) Handling the emotions of high-stakes misses (01:02:06) Outro Errthum Performance Website Errthum Performance Facebook PageThe Kitchen Table on Spotify -- See highlights from every episode on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and stay up to date by following The Sport Psychology Of on your podcast platform. If you want to start working on your mental game, try out 1 on 1 sport psychology coaching with me, Gabe Zelico, by visiting my website ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.zelicoperformance.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠schedule a free introductory call⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ where we’ll discuss your goals, obstacles to success, and determine if we’d be a good fit to move forward.  You can also email me directly at gabriel@zelicoperformance.com regarding private coaching or the podcast. Music by Ben Zelico. Disclaimer: The Sport Psychology Of podcast is for general informational purposes only and does not represent mental health care services, including the giving of mental health care advice. The use of information on this podcast or materials linked from this podcast is at the user’s own risk. The content of this podcast is not intended to be a substitute for professional mental health care advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Users should not disregard or delay in obtaining mental health care for any condition they may have and should seek the assistance of their health care professionals for any such conditions.

Developing a leader on the combat field is similar in many ways to developing leaders in sports. While the end result might look different, the training can readily be applied to either position.  Welcome to the sport psychology of. Today, we’re breaking down the sport psychology of leadership development in soldiers. The guest for today is Jenny Hennig, who works full-time as a performance expert with the US Army. Enjoy! (00:00) Episode introduction (03:10) Why do athletes and coaches care about leadership development in junior soldiers? (04:44) Definition (05:43) Leadership styles (10:23) Intrinsic/internal motivation (12:50) Different leadership styles that best fit different roles and environments (26:25) Essential qualities in leaders (29:42) Active listening when engaging with teammates  (32:48) Developing soldiers and athletes’ unique leadership style (37:59) Optimize your feedback system (43:47) Journaling to develop leadership (46:50) Imagery  (48:52) Routines  (50:50) Breathing (54:00) Agency/control in your leadership style (55:06) Outro  Jenny's LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/jenniferhennig Jenny's Email: jen.hennig@comcast.net -- See highlights from every episode on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and stay up to date by following The Sport Psychology Of on your podcast platform. If you want to start working on your mental game, try out 1 on 1 sport psychology coaching with me, Gabe Zelico, by visiting my website ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.zelicoperformance.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠schedule a free introductory call⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ where we’ll discuss your goals, obstacles to success, and determine if we’d be a good fit to move forward.  You can also email me directly at gabriel@zelicoperformance.com regarding private coaching or the podcast. Music by Ben Zelico. Disclaimer: The Sport Psychology Of podcast is for general informational purposes only and does not represent mental health care services, including the giving of mental health care advice. The use of information on this podcast or materials linked from this podcast is at the user’s own risk. The content of this podcast is not intended to be a substitute for professional mental health care advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Users should not disregard or delay in obtaining mental health care for any condition they may have and should seek the assistance of their health care professionals for any such conditions.

Whether done consciously or unconsciously, you are constantly setting goals and thinking about them day in, day out.  What’s less obvious is the optimal science to setting and striving toward your goals. Welcome to the sport psychology of, I’m Gabe Zelico. Today, we’re breaking down the sport psychology of setting, striving toward, and satisfying goals.  Garett Westerwelle joins the podcast to teach strategies for the goal-setting process, tips for how to optimize your goal pursuit, and many glimpses into the broad topic that is goals. Garett is the owner of Mental Stride Performance, where he works with athletes and performers of all varieties. He is both a Certified Mental Performance Consultant (CMPC) and Certified Strength & Conditioning Specialist (CSCS). He currently resides in southern California and works at UC-San Diego in their Athletic Performance Department, operating in a blended role across sport psychology and strength & conditioning.  -- See highlights from every episode on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and stay up to date by following The Sport Psychology Of on your podcast platform. If you want to start working on your mental game, try out 1 on 1 sport psychology coaching with me, Gabe Zelico, by visiting my website ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.zelicoperformance.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠⁠schedule a free introductory call⁠⁠⁠⁠ where we’ll discuss your goals, obstacles to success, and determine if we’d be a good fit to move forward.  You can also email me directly at gabriel@zelicoperformance.com regarding private coaching or the podcast. Music by Ben Zelico. Disclaimer: The Sport Psychology Of podcast is for general informational purposes only and does not represent mental health care services, including the giving of mental health care advice. The use of information on this podcast or materials linked from this podcast is at the user’s own risk. The content of this podcast is not intended to be a substitute for professional mental health care advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Users should not disregard or delay in obtaining mental health care for any condition they may have and should seek the assistance of their health care professionals for any such conditions.

No matter your skill level, age, or sport, mental blocks are something many athletes come face to face with that challenges their resolve. What’s the difference in the athletes who come out the other side stronger, and the ones who quit? Training and taking care  of your brain. Welcome to the sport psychology of, I’m Gabe Zelico. Today, we’re breaking down the sport psychology of mental blocks. In this episode, you’ll learn about how mental blocks form, proactive ways to keep them from forming in the first place, and mental skills to knock them down should they arise. Joining me today is former national gymnastics champion, Tiffany Wilding-White. Tiffany now works as a mental performance coach, workshop leader, speaker, and author. Tiffany competed in Division I gymnastics at Cornell University, and earned her Master’s in sport psychology at Ithaca College. As owner of Mind Over Motion, she has trained thousands of athletes to achieve a winning mindset on and off the field. She works with Olympic, professional, college and amateur athletes, as well as performers and coaches. She is the author of the book, “Golfing with Your Eyes Closed.” Get in touch with Tiffany at mindovermotion.com. ---- See highlights from every episode on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and stay up to date by following The Sport Psychology Of on your podcast platform. If you want to start working on your mental game, try out 1 on 1 sport psychology coaching with me, Gabe Zelico, by visiting my website ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.zelicoperformance.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠schedule a free introductory call⁠⁠⁠ where we’ll discuss your goals, obstacles to success, and determine if we’d be a good fit to move forward.  You can also email me directly at gabriel@zelicoperformance.com regarding private coaching or the podcast. Music by Ben Zelico. Disclaimer: The Sport Psychology Of podcast is for general informational purposes only and does not represent mental health care services, including the giving of mental health care advice. The use of information on this podcast or materials linked from this podcast is at the user’s own risk. The content of this podcast is not intended to be a substitute for professional mental health care advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Users should not disregard or delay in obtaining mental health care for any condition they may have and should seek the assistance of their health care professionals for any such conditions.

Coaching baseball, which involves athletes constantly failing, a variety of different positions, and a lengthy season, is no small task. Welcome to the sport psychology of, I’m Gabe Zelico. Today, we’re breaking down the sport psychology of coaching baseball. I’m excited to welcome Scott Laverty who entered his 11th season as Head Coach at Chapman University in 2023-24. Scott reached the pinnacle of Division III baseball when he led the Panthers to the 2019 NCAA Division III National Championship. On the way to the title, the Panthers set the school record with 44 wins and the NCAA Division III record with 524 strikeouts. Whether you’re a coach for a different sport, or an athlete, you’ll hear plenty of quality sport psychology takeaways to implement into your coaching or training.  Enjoy! Chapman University Baseball Email: baseball@chapman.edu ---- See highlights from every episode on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and stay up to date by following The Sport Psychology Of on your podcast platform. If you want to start working on your mental game, try out 1 on 1 sport psychology coaching with me, Gabe Zelico, by visiting my website ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.zelicoperformance.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠schedule a free introductory call⁠⁠ where we’ll discuss your goals, obstacles to success, and determine if we’d be a good fit to move forward.  You can also email me directly at gabriel@zelicoperformance.com regarding private coaching or the podcast. Music by Ben Zelico. Disclaimer: The Sport Psychology Of podcast is for general informational purposes only and does not represent mental health care services, including the giving of mental health care advice. The use of information on this podcast or materials linked from this podcast is at the user’s own risk. The content of this podcast is not intended to be a substitute for professional mental health care advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Users should not disregard or delay in obtaining mental health care for any condition they may have and should seek the assistance of their health care professionals for any such conditions.

When stepping up for a penalty kick or shootout attempt, it’s not difficult to imagine why many athletes panic and begin to feel their mind race. How often do you approach this moment with calm confidence? If you’re like most athletes, it’s probably not often. Luckily, there are methods to consistently reach this state through mental skills, no matter how big the moment is. Joining me today is Justine Jones, who grew up in Boise, Idaho before moving to Salt Lake City where she attended Westminster College while playing for the Women's Soccer team.  She received her BS in Psychology and MS in Sport and Performance Psychology. Currently, she works closely with athletes, professionals, and individuals from all walks of life to enhance their mental agility, resilience, and focus. Using evidence-based strategies, personalized coaching, and practical techniques, she empowers individuals to overcome challenges, optimize their performance, and cultivate a winning mindset.  Her ultimate goal is to equip clients with the necessary skills to excel, creating a lasting impact on their chosen pursuits as well as all aspects of their lives. You can email Justine at justine@rjpg.net Follow RJPG on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rjperformancegroup/ Here is Justine's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/justinejonesconroy/ RJPG's website: http://rjpg.net/ ---- See highlights from every episode on ⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and stay up to date by following The Sport Psychology Of on your podcast platform. If you want to start working on your mental game, try out 1 on 1 sport psychology coaching with me, Gabe Zelico, by visiting my website ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.zelicoperformance.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠schedule a free introductory call⁠ where we’ll discuss your goals, obstacles to success, and determine if we’d be a good fit to move forward.  You can also email me directly at gabriel@zelicoperformance.com regarding private coaching or the podcast. Music by Ben Zelico. Disclaimer: The Sport Psychology Of podcast is for general informational purposes only and does not represent mental health care services, including the giving of mental health care advice. The use of information on this podcast or materials linked from this podcast is at the user’s own risk. The content of this podcast is not intended to be a substitute for professional mental health care advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Users should not disregard or delay in obtaining mental health care for any condition they may have and should seek the assistance of their health care professionals for any such conditions.

When it comes to optimizing mental performance, understanding your thought patterns and what you say to yourself is a top priority.  While this sounds like common sense and simple, how difficult is it really, and what are the concrete ways athletes are trained to optimize their thoughts? This conversation is a slight pivot from many episodes, as Dr. Brad Donohue joins the podcast to discuss a program he helped implement at University of Nevada, Las Vegas, called The Optimum Performance Program in Sports; we’ll refer to it throughout the episode as TOPPS. This episode gives you insight behind how TOPPS optimizes performance in athletes, with plenty of takeaways you can put into action. Head to www.toppscience.com to learn more about Dr. Donohue's program. Enjoy! ---- See highlights from every episode on ⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠ and stay up to date by following The Sport Psychology Of on your podcast platform. If you want to start working on your mental game, try out 1 on 1 sport psychology coaching with me, Gabe Zelico, by visiting my website ⁠⁠⁠⁠www.zelicoperformance.com⁠⁠⁠⁠ and schedule a free introductory call where we’ll discuss your goals, obstacles to success, and determine if we’d be a good fit to move forward.  You can also email me directly at gabriel@zelicoperformance.com regarding private coaching or the podcast. Music by Ben Zelico. Disclaimer: The Sport Psychology Of podcast is for general informational purposes only and does not represent mental health care services, including the giving of mental health care advice. The use of information on this podcast or materials linked from this podcast is at the user’s own risk. The content of this podcast is not intended to be a substitute for professional mental health care advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Users should not disregard or delay in obtaining mental health care for any condition they may have and should seek the assistance of their health care professionals for any such conditions.

Whether it’s running, swimming, cycling, or any other type of endurance test, your mind is usually the first to falter, not your body.  What types of mental skills can you apply to your endurance training and competing so your mind becomes the strongest, and not the weakest link? Welcome to the sport psychology of, I’m Gabe Zelico. Today, we’re discussing the sport psychology of mid-race mental skills. Ryan Teigen joins the discussion with experience both as an endurance athlete and as a sport psychology consultant. With five years of experience in behavioral science, sport psychology, and exercise psychology, Ryan guides teams and individuals towards optimal performance and health. By combining his expertise in psychology with a deep understanding of human behavior and motivation, Ryan identifies key areas where his clients can make meaningful changes to their habits and routines. Through personalized coaching and actionable advice, he strives to empower his clients to achieve their full potential, both on and off the field. Ryan and I go through a variety of mental obstacles and actionable tools to start working into your training. Thanks for tuning in, enjoy! Ryan's Socials: Perseverance Performance: https://www.perseveranceperformance.com/ GoWFO: www.gowfo.com Email: ryan@perseveranceperformance.com ---- See highlights from every episode on ⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠ and stay up to date by following The Sport Psychology Of on your podcast platform. If you want to start working on your mental game, try out 1 on 1 sport psychology coaching with me, Gabe Zelico, by visiting my website ⁠⁠⁠www.zelicoperformance.com⁠⁠⁠ and schedule a free introductory call where we’ll discuss your goals, obstacles to success, and determine if we’d be a good fit to move forward.  You can also email me directly at gabriel@zelicoperformance.com regarding private coaching or the podcast. Music by Ben Zelico. Disclaimer: The Sport Psychology Of podcast is for general informational purposes only and does not represent mental health care services, including the giving of mental health care advice. The use of information on this podcast or materials linked from this podcast is at the user’s own risk. The content of this podcast is not intended to be a substitute for professional mental health care advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Users should not disregard or delay in obtaining mental health care for any condition they may have and should seek the assistance of their health care professionals for any such conditions.

You can't have a winning team without a strong starting lineup, but what about the unsung heroes waiting in the wings—the backup players?  They often spend the majority of their careers on the sidelines, yet their mental strength and readiness to step up at a moment's notice are critical components of a team's success.  As a backup player, you're expected to put in the same, if not more, effort during practice compared to the starters. When game time comes, you're called upon with little notice, asked to perform near your potential despite not being in a rhythm like starters often are. So, how can backup players utilize sports psychology to maintain motivation throughout their careers and be at their best when opportunity knocks? Welcome to the sport psychology of, I’m Gabe Zelico. Today, we’re breaking down the sport psychology of backup players. Joining me today is Raven Gerald, a Sport and Performance Psychology doctoral student at the University of Western States and a Mental Skills Coach for athletes. She recently started a business called Undefeated Sport Psychology through which she helps athletes build their character, confidence, and craft. Raven has 8 years of college basketball coaching experience to go along with over a decade of youth coaching experience. Prior to her coaching career, she played college basketball at the Division I & II levels, helping lead her teams to multiple championships. We cover a variety of challenges that backup players encounter throughout a season, as well as those critical moments when they're thrown into the spotlight during a high-stakes game—a moment that can make or break their future in the sport. Enjoy! Raven's personal Twitter and Instagram Undefeated Sport Psychology Website, Twitter and Instagram ---- See highlights from every episode on ⁠Instagram⁠⁠ and stay up to date by following The Sport Psychology Of on your podcast platform. If you want to start working on your mental game, try out 1 on 1 sport psychology coaching with me, Gabe Zelico, by visiting my website ⁠⁠www.zelicoperformance.com⁠⁠ and schedule a free introductory call where we’ll discuss your goals, obstacles to success, and determine if we’d be a good fit to move forward.  You can also email me directly at gabriel@zelicoperformance.com regarding private coaching or the podcast. Music by Ben Zelico. Disclaimer:The Sport Psychology Of podcast is for general informational purposes only and does not represent mental health care services, including the giving of mental health care advice. The use of information on this podcast or materials linked from this podcast is at the user’s own risk. The content of this podcast is not intended to be a substitute for professional mental health care advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Users should not disregard or delay in obtaining mental health care for any condition they may have and should seek the assistance of their health care professionals for any such conditions.

When thousands of people are in pursuit of the same goal that only allows a small fraction in, it creates a mindset that is dangerous as much as it is common Welcome to the sport psychology of, I’m Gabe Zelico. Today, we’re talking about the starving artist mentality. Also known as the scarcity mindset, is a pattern of behavior and thoughts that everyone recognizes in some capacity.  For those in the performing arts, it’s a feeling of needing to be perfect at all times. Essentially, this shows up in performers neglecting self-care as they prioritize gaining an edge over their competition in every way possible. The irony? Behaviors and thoughts brought on by this mindset end up hurting a person’s ability to perform consistently near their potential, leading to a vicious cycle. I’m joined by Demi Agaiby, a Mental Performance Consultant & founding director of Beyond Horizons Performance. With 20+ years of commercial and concert dance training and an M.S. in Sport and Exercise Psychology, Demi believes in integrating psychological skills training and mental wellness into all performance spaces. Demi is determined to support athletes & performers in achieving their goals while building confidence and resilience. Demi's website: http://beyondhorizonsperformance.com/ Demi's Podcast: Performers on the Rise Demi's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/beyondhorizonsperformance/ See highlights from every episode on Instagram⁠ and stay up to date with the podcast by following The Sport Psychology Of on your podcast platform. If you want to start working on your mental game, try out 1 on 1 sport psychology coaching with me, Gabe Zelico, by visiting my website ⁠www.zelicoperformance.com⁠ and schedule a free introductory call where we’ll discuss your goals, obstacles to success, and determine if we’d be a good fit to move forward.  You can also email me directly at gabriel@zelicoperformance.com regarding private coaching or the podcast. Thank you for listening!

Do you have trouble accepting certain outcomes that you know are possible, leaving you more tense and ultimately hurting your performance? Mark Cheney joins the podcast to discuss the impact of pre-acceptance on your confidence and performance. We also go over multiple tools you can put into practice to help improve your ability to accept any outcome so you can focus more effectively on the present. Mark Cheney is a Certified Mental Performance Consultant (CMPC) and the Director of Mental Performance at Faith Lutheran MS & HS in Las Vegas. He teaches Performance and Sport Psychology, works with students in the Honors Institute, and provides mental conditioning for the athletic department.  Mark also hosts The Ripple Tank podcast and regularly speaks at education and sport psychology conferences. Links to connect with Mark Cheney: Website: ⁠www.coachmarkcheney.com⁠ ⁠Twitter⁠ ⁠Instagram⁠ ⁠Facebook⁠ ⁠LinkedIn⁠ Stay up to date with the podcast by following The Sport Psychology Of on your podcast platform, and see short highlights from every episode on Instagram. If you want to start working on your mental game, try out 1 on 1 sport psychology coaching with me, Gabe Zelico, by visiting my website www.zelicoperformance.com and schedule a free introductory call where we’ll discuss your goals, obstacles to success, and determine if we’d be a good fit to move forward.  You can also email me directly at gabriel@zelicoperformance.com regarding private coaching or the podcast. Thank you for listening!

Any quarterback will agree that there are few feelings worse than throwing an interception. Unfortunately for them, this part of the game isn’t going anywhere, so how can quarterbacks learn to mentally prepare for this turnover, and recover their mental game as quickly as possible? Welcome to the sport psychology of. I’m Gabe Zelico. Today, we’re talking about the sport psychology of throwing an interception. Joining me today is Riley Jensen, CEO of RJ Performance Group. He is the lead Mental Performance Coach for Real Salt Lake and the Real Monarchs. He is also the Mental Performance Coach for Utah State University Athletics as well as Weber State University Athletics. In addition to his Master’s degree in sport and performance psychology from the University of Utah, Riley started as a quarterback at an NCAA D1 school (USU). He was named 1st team junior college All-American QB (Snow College) and coached football at a Division 1 program (NC State). Riley is the perfect guy to talk to about sport psychology and football, so you’re in for a treat. Timestamps are below, enjoy! (00:00) Episode introduction (01:28) Riley Jensen (07:05) The sport psychology of throwing an interception (09:15) How stress leads to throwing more interceptions (10:25) QB thoughts and mindsets (15:23) Body scan (17:27) Simplify your focus (19:30) Situations and thoughts leading to a vulnerable mindset (21:51) Riley and social media (23:53) Lean into the pressure (24:39) How to have a short memory (28:08) Stress off the field impacts your performance (31:44) Training awareness (37:22) Mental rehearsal/imagery/visualization (42:26) Refocusing after throwing an interception (47:06) Outro ⁠RJ Performance Group's Website⁠ Follow @thesportpsychologyof on ⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠⁠Youtube⁠⁠⁠⁠ to watch clips from each episode, including video.  Email Gabe at thesportpsychologyof@gmail.com for any feedback or questions regarding the podcast. Interested in taking your mental game to the next level? Try out 1 on 1 sport psychology coaching with Gabe Zelico by visiting ⁠⁠⁠⁠www.zelicoperformance.com⁠⁠⁠⁠ and sign up for a free introductory call.  Music by Ben Zelico. Disclaimer: The Sport Psychology Of podcast is for general informational purposes only and does not represent mental health care services, including the giving of mental health care advice. The use of information on this podcast or materials linked from this podcast is at the user’s own risk. The content of this podcast is not intended to be a substitute for professional mental health care advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Users should not disregard or delay in obtaining mental health care for any condition they may have and should seek the assistance of their health care professionals for any such conditions.

Patrick Mahomes recently discussed his pregame routine on the new Netflix series, Quarterback. In this solo episode, I break down each component of his routine and give you a lens into the sport psychology of it - how does he boost his mental game, and what can you take into your own pregame routine?? Follow @thesportpsychologyof on Instagram, Twitter, and TikTok. Find us on Youtube to watch clips from each episode, including video.  Email Gabe at gabriel@zelicoperformance.com for any feedback or questions regarding the podcast. Interested in taking your mental game to the next level? Try out 1 on 1 sport psychology coaching with me, Gabe Zelico, by visiting my website: www.zelicoperformance.com and sign up for a free introductory call. Disclaimer:The Sport Psychology Of podcast is for general informational purposes only and does not represent mental health care services, including the giving of mental health care advice. The use of information on this podcast or materials linked from this podcast is at the user’s own risk. The content of this podcast is not intended to be a substitute for professional mental health care advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Users should not disregard or delay in obtaining mental health care for any condition they may have and should seek the assistance of their health care professionals for any such conditions.