Psychological Skills Training Text

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Psychological Skills Training: Application to Elite Sport Performance

by Boris Blumenstein and Yitzhak Weinstein

http://www.ultimateathleteconcepts.com/store/psychological-skills.html

The main goal of this book is to integrate psychological skills training (PST)

with other training processes of the athletic preparation program; several means

of achieving this goal in numerous sport types are described. Additionally, we

wish to create a relevant body of knowledge for sport psychologists, coaches,

athletes, physical education students, and scientists. We trust that the

information presented herein will help to improve training processes and to

upgrade the preparation of athletes for competition.

The chapters contain numerous real-life examples and practical tips of applied

sport psychology with top elite athletes and European, World, and Olympic

medalists from different sports. Both authors have worked with elite athletes;

the first author focused mainly on scientific and psychological services to

elite athletes, while the second author was mainly involved with the scientific

(e.g. physiological and psycho-physiological) services to elite athletes.

Linking theory and practice can affect athletic performance and achievements in

competition. While many textbooks and scientific papers have discussed aspects

of individual and team sports and provide information on psychological aspects

of sport activity, this book focuses on PST and its application to the athletic

preparation process. The book provides coaches, athletes, and sport

psychologists with theoretical (Chapters 1, 2) and practical (Chapters 3, 4)

guidance. In addition to presenting major theoretical concepts related to

psychological preparation in sport, this book also shares the vast experience of

a sport psychology consultant who has worked with top-level athletes, clubs, and

national and Olympic teams for over 35 years.

Chapter 1 provides a short overview of the critical phases within an annual

training program and various preparations in each phase. Psychological

preparation is discussed in terms of its role as an integral part of the

training programs; the chapter contains numerous examples illustrating the

application of this preparation to enhance athletic performance. Chapter 2

focuses on peak performance and psychological skills, with examples in various

sport types. Additionally, the association between mental training techniques

and psychological skills is described. The chapter combines research findings of

PST with practical applications. Chapter 3 provides information about the

applications of psychological skills programs for performance enhancement, as

well as the implications of PST to the training process for individual and team

sports. The authors conclude the chapter with common issues they have addressed

when working with elite athletes. Chapter 4 discusses the role and place of the

sport psychology consultant in the training process, including cooperation with

the coach, medical, scientific and professional staff. Special attention is

given to ethical issues. Chapter 5 provides information on where and how to

begin PST, and evaluates PST and its limitations. Finally, this chapter attempts

to predict the future of PST.

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Carruthers

Wakefield, UK