INTRODUCTION TO MENTAL SKILLS TRAINING Damon Burton & Bernie Holliday University of Idaho

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS What is Mental Skills Training (MST)? How important is the mental side of competition? What factors would increase or decrease your motivation to actually use mental training?

WHAT IS MENTAL SKILLS TRAINING? Often termed Psychological Skills Training (PST) Most athletes develop mental training tools and skills to some degree through trial and error. MST’s goal is to enhance the development and automation of mental training tools and skills through a comprehensive and systematic program. Good MST programs not only speed up and enhance the development process, but they also ensure that performers develop more fully, perform at a higher level, enjoy sport more and transfer these skills to all other areas of their lives.

WHY MST IS IMPORTANT Have you ever “played down” to a lesser-skilled opponent’s ability level? Have you ever choked at a critical point in a game or match? Have you ever thought about non-sport-related activities during practice or competition? Have you ever skipped a workout because you didn’t feel motivated, energized, or focused?

WHY MST IS IMPORTANT Preseason Sesason Postseason

WHY MST IS IMPORTANT Preseason Sesason Postseason

WHY ATHLETES AND COACHES DON’T USE MST Lack of knowledge about MST and sport psychology “You have to be confident!” “Concentrate!” and “Relax out there!” Belief that mental skills are innate and unchangeable “That Bernie’s just a head case under pressure” The “person-in-the-box” phenomenon Lack of time Buying into all of the MST myths…

MST MYTHS MST is for problem athletes only Only 10% of athletes require the services of a clinical sport psychologist (Weinberg & Gould, 1999) MST is for elite athletes only Youth athletes to professionals Athletes, business folk, actors, performers, musicians, and surgeons are just a few of the occupations benefiting from MST The “magic wand” myth MST doesn’t work and isn’t useful

DOES MST WORK? Elite-level performer research Anecdotal reports from athletes and coaches Athletes’ and coaches’ subjective experiences Intervention studies Greenspan & Feltz (1989) Weinberg & Comar (1994)

3+ PHASES OF MST New School… Education Old School… Acquisition Practice Implementation Skill-transfer strategies Performance Less-learned skills break down under pressure and old habits resurface Old School… Education Concentration lecture… Acquisition Concentration activities… Practice Automate concentration by performing activities daily Problem: Athletes had trouble integrating MST into competition

WHO SHOULD PERFORM MST? Sport psychologist Coach/Exercise leader Problem(s): Coach/Exercise leader Athlete Problems(s):

WALKING THE WALK: IMPLEMENTING THE PROGRAM When to begin… Ideally, off-season or preseason More time to learn and automate new skills Less pressure to win How long… First exposure is 3 to 6 months Then, lifetime commitment Needs assessment Oral interviews Written psychological inventories (e.g., tests) Performance profiling (see additional handouts)

WALKING THE WALK: IMPLEMENTING THE PROGRAM Needs assessment (continued) Beware the “canned” MST program! Identify critical mental skills and mental training tools for each individual athlete Provide vision and long-term goal setting Develop systematic practice routine and schedule Develop and implement the MST program based on 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 above Systematically evaluate and revise MST program Develop a strategy to monitor progress (e.g., logs, etc.) Reward goal achievement regularly

SOME COMMON PROBLEMS WITH IMPLEMENTING MST Lack of conviction Sell, sell, sell! Lack of time Coaches should commit to a time Lack of consultant’s sport knowledge Learn, learn, learn! Lack of follow-up Plan for and schedule two or three follow-up meetings prior to implementing MST programs