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

2. DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
What is the “mental skills” approach? of competition?
Why is the “mental skills” approach important?
Why don’t practitioners make greater use of this approach?
What are the 3 phases of MST?
What role do process variables play in MST effectiveness?
What process variables are important to utilize?

3. WHAT IS MENTAL SKILLS TRAINING?
Most athletes develop mental training tools and skills 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 speed up and enhance the development process, 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.

4. 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?

5. WHY MST IS IMPORTANT
Preseason Season Postseason

6. WHY MST IS IMPORTANT
Preseason Season Postseason

7. 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”
Lack of time
Buying into all of the MST myths…

8. MST MYTHS MST is for problem athletes only
No more than 10% of athletes require clinical services
MST is for elite athletes only
Youth athletes to professionals
Athletes, businessmen, actors, performers, musicians, and surgeons use MST
The “magic wand” myth
MST doesn’t work and isn’t useful

9. DOES MST WORK? Elite performer research
Anecdotal reports from athletes and coaches
Intervention studies
Weinberg & Comar (1994)
Vealey (1994)
Meyers, Whelan & Murphy (1996)

10. CATEGORIZING MST TOOLS AND SKILLS
Mental Training Tools
MENTAL SKILLS
motivation
energy management
attention
stress management
self-confidence
goal setting
imagery
self talk
relaxation and energization

11. 3+ PHASES OF MST Old School… New School… Education
Concentration lecture…
Acquisition
Concentration activities…
Implementation
Automate
Build into your game
Perform under pressure
New School…
Education
Acquisition
Practice
Implementation
Skill-transfer strategies
Performance
Less-learned skills break down under pressure and old habits resurface

12. WHO SHOULD PERFORM MST? Sport Psychologist Problem(s):
Coach/Exercise Leader
Athlete
Problems(s):

13. WALKING THE WALK: IMPLEMENTING MST PROGRAMS
When to begin…
Ideally, off-season or preseason
More time to learn and automate new skills
Less pressure to win
How long should MST programs last …
First exposure for 3 to 6 months
Then, lifetime commitment

14. WALKING THE WALK: IMPLEMENTING MST PROGRAMS
Needs assessment
Oral interviews
Complete MST inventories
Performance profiling
Beware the “canned” MST program!
Use logs to identify critical mental training tools and skills for each individual athlete
Provide vision and long-term goals

15. WALKING THE WALK: IMPLEMENTING MST PROGRAMS
4. Develop systematic practice routine and schedule
5. Develop and implement the MST program based on previous steps
6. Systematically evaluate and revise MST program
Develop a strategy to monitor progress (e.g., logs, etc.)
7. Reward goal attainment regularly

16. SOME COMMON MST IMPLEMENTATION PROBLEMS
Lack of conviction
Sell, sell, sell using relevant examples!
Lack of time
Coaches must commit time
Lack of consultant’s sport knowledge
Learn, learn, learn!
Lack of follow-up
‘Community of Learners’ approach

17. PERSONAL SCIENCE TIE-IN TO MENTAL TRAINING
Baseline data collection to enhance self- awareness to enhance program personalization,
Use logs for self-monitoring to make progress more explicit,
Coaches must commit time
Work through coaches and identify practice strategies to teach mental and physical skills simultaneously,
Buy-in skyrockets when part of comprehensivetraining.
Provide ‘implementation’ time to overlearn new mental skills.