SPORT PSYCHOLOGY IN THE MEDIA

Below you'll find examples of how mental skills are being applied in sport and life.  Take a look!
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Getty, EPA, Reuters, Rex/ Shutterstock
How to Win at Life:  What Sport Psychologists Can Teach Us All
Simone Usborne
Aug 21, 2021
The lessons top athletes are learning about stress and mental health can help us handle pressure in our own lives.
Read More...
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Meron Tekie Menghistab The New York Times
An Athletic Coach for the Mind? 
Elizabeth Svoboda
Aug. 9, 2021
Part counselor, part strategist, mental skills trainers have helped pro competitors wrap their heads around success for decades.
​Read More...
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Jayne Kamin-Oncea USA Today Sports
Andre Agassi Revealed His Fascinating Secret to Beating Boris Becker
Larry Brown
​July 8, 2021
Andre Agassi and Boris Becker were two of the top tennis players of their generation.
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Menno Boermans/Cavan
Meet the Woman Teaching the Psychology of Survival
Emily Sohn
Nov. 9, 2020
Wilderness pros are trained to deal with physical injuries, but what about the psychological trauma that can result while on an expedition? Australian psychologist and mountaineer Kate Beacher created a training program to equip guides and athletes with a tool kit. Read More...
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Steve Dykes/Getty Images
How Stephen Curry's 'Organized Chaos' Fuels His Record-Breaking Career -- and the Golden State Warriors' Rebuild
David Flemming
Jan. 21, 2021
Stephen Curry has officially moved up the career 3 pointers made list to second place, passing Reggie Miller, relying in part on a vital skill that's been an iconic part of his game.
Read More...
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Brenda Ann Kenneally
Children of Quarantine: What does a year of isolation and anxiety do to a developing brain?
Lisa Miller
Nov. 24, 2020
Neuroscientist Philip Fisher started sending questionnaires at the start of the pandemic to parents with young children to study how they and the children are doing. 
Read More...
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Charlie Surbey
How Iceman Wim Hof Uncovered The Secrets To Our Health
Susan Casey
October 12, 2020
Wim Hof's teachings about breath work and the health benefits of cold plunges have attracted millions of followers who swear it has cured everything from depression to diabetes and makes them happier and stronger.
Read More...
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JC Dela Cuesta/ Unsplash
Understanding the Mental Game
Adonal Foyle
Oct. 19, 2015
The first time I really wanted to understand the mental psyche of a professional athlete was when my coach was being choked by my teammate.
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Sporlab/Unsplash
To Run My Best Marathon at Age 44, I Had To Outrun My Past
Nicholas Thompson
April 20, 2020
After 20 years of long-distance competition, I ran my fastest. All it took was tech, training, and a new understanding of my life.
Read More...
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Lachlan Cunningham/Getty Images
Rise Above It or Drown:  How Elite NBA Athletes Handle Pressure   
Jackie MacMullen
Feb. 26, 2020
Can elite athletes train to be impervious to pressure? Steph Curry thinks they can.
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tolgart/Getty Images
Don't Just Put On A Happy Face At Work
Allison S. Gabriel, Joel Koopman, Christopher C. Rosen, John D. Arnold, and Wayne Hochwarter  Feb. 19, 2020
It's likely that you experience a variety of negative emotions every day.
Read More...
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Bryan Christie Design
Why Your Brain Needs Exercise
  David A. Raichen and Gene E. Alexander
Jan. 1, 2020
The evolutionary history of humans explains why physical activity is important for brain health.
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Dylan Nolte/Unsplash
How 1% Performance Improvements Led To Olympic Gold
Eben Harrell
Oct. 30, 2015
When Sir Dave Brailsford became head of British Cycling in 2002, the team had almost no record of success: British cycling had only won a single gold medal in its 76-year history.
Read More...
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Courtesy of Daniel Mogg
Mental Conditioning Driving Force Behind Russell Wilson's Succes
Brady Henderson, ESPN
Oct. 3, 2019
Wilson works with Trevor Moawad, an mental coach who, in his words, oversees the psychological architecture of Wilson's career.
Read More...
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Jose Morales/Unsplash
Mind Over Matter:  Cubs Starter Jon Lester's Secret to Getting Better With Age
Gordon Wittenmyer
March 27, 2019
The older he gets, the more the game changes around him....what makes him better in his 30s than he was in his 20s.
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Getty Images
How Elite Athletes Keep Their Heads In The Game
Dyani Sabin
Nov. 7, 2018
A professional athlete's mental game is just as important, if not more so, as their physical one.
Read More...
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"Woman With Mirror" Frederick Carl Frieseke/Wikimedia
The Running Conversation in Your Head
Julie Beck
Nov. 23, 2016
What a close study of "inner speech" reveals about why humans talk to themselves.
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Patrick McDermott/Getty Images
The Crisis of Confidence That Nearly Ended Des Linden's Running Career
Shira Springer
April 5, 2019
For more than three decades, no American woman had won the Boston Marathon. Heading into last year's race, Des Linden was one of three runners with a good chance to break that drought.
Read More...
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Photo by Mitchell Quiring
Toyko Knocked Deena Kastor Down. Here's How She Keeps Getting Back Up
Hailey Middlebrook
 March 13, 2019
After a disappointing finish at the marathon, the American record holder remains a master at staying positive when things go south.       
Read More....
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Getty Images/ Matthew Stockman
Mental Health is Central to Sport.
​And With Mounting Pressures for Athletes, Prioritizing It Is Pivotal
Zoe Weiner
Aug 23, 2021
Social media has allowed us to connect our generation's sports legends like never before. But it’s also created an added layer of pressure on top of all the other expectations that have always been associated with competing at an elite level.
Read More...
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Laurence Griffiths Getty Images
How the Tokyo Olympics Changed the Conversation About Athlete's Mental Health
Alice Park
Aug. 8, 2021
Even before the Tokyo Olympics, mental health issues have been weighing heavily on athlete's minds. 
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Pool Photo via USA Today Network
How 49ers' Mike McGlinchey Stopped Doom Scrolling, Took Control of Mental Health
Nick Wagner
Aug. 25, 2021
Late in the toughest season of his career - San Francisco 49ers Mike McGlinchey found himself attempting the most difficult block os his life:  a constant stream of outside criticism. 
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Williams & Hirakawa
Naomi Osaka:  'It's O.K. Not to Be O.K.'
​Naomi Osaka
​July 8, 2021
Osaka withdrew from the French Open to tend to her mental health. Read More...
Ted Talks
How I climbed a 3,000 foot Vertical Cliff - Without Ropes
Alex Honnold
April 2018
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Eleni Kalorkoti
Persuading the Unpersuadable 
Adam Grant
March/April 2021
The author, an organizational psychologist, has spent time with a number of people who succeeded in motivating the notoriously self-confident Steve Jobs to change his mind and has analyzed the science behind their techniques. Read more...
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Kati Szilagyi
How to Move On After Failure - and Rebuild Your Confidence
Kara Cutruzzula
Dec. 21, 2020
Years of planning and years of hard work aren't enough to protect you from failure.
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Jon Glassberg/Louder Than 11
El Capitan Climber Emily Harrington Explains How She Uses Fear to Succeed
Scott Stump
Nov. 10, 2020
Harrington became the first woman to free-climb the Golden Gate route of the famed El Capitan in under 24 hours.
Read More...
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Norm Hall/Getty Images
Cardinals RB Kenyan Drake Motivated by Positive Thinking
Tyler Greenwalt
Nov. 17, 2020
Kenyan Drake uses his platform to bring positivity to the world. He tries not to dwell on the negative but instead focuses on inspiring a better world in a 
     positive way.     
Read More...
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Courtesy Foxtopus Ink
It's Time To Change Your Relationship To Fear
Scott Carney
April 22, 2020
In his new book, 'The Wedge,' bestselling author Scott Carney travels the world to investigate the surprisingly effective methods humans have developed to rewire our brains and control our response to stress. And it all starts with fear.
Read More...
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Sebastian Laulitzki/ Science Photo Library
How the 'Lost Art' of Breathing Can Impact Sleep and Resilience
Terry Gross
May 27, 2020
Humans typically take about 25,000 breaths per day — often without a second thought. But the COVID-19 pandemic has put a new spotlight on respiratory illnesses and the breaths we so often take for granted.
Read More...
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Lucas Clara/Unsplash
How to Build a "Psychological First Aid Kit"
Tracy Ross
April 17, 2020
The American Mountain Guides Association published tips on how outdoor professionals can use "psychological first aid" to stay mentally healthy during these challenging times. But the advice is useful for all of us during the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.
Read More...
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Illustration by Jordan Awan
3 Mental Blocks That Keep You From Doing What You Say You Want To Do
Daniella Balarezo
May 3, 2019
The Bad News: We all face powerful mental blocks that stop us when we're trying to achieve our goals. The Good News: We can outwit them. Here's how, according to cognitive psychologist Amanda Crowell.
Read More....  
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JamesClear.com
This Coach Improved Every Tiny Thing By 1% And Here's What Happened
James Clear
The fate of British Cycling changed one day in 2003.
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Michael Dodge/AAP
Playing Without Fear of the Outcome; A Psychologist Tells Us What We Can Learn From The Success of the Richmond Tigers
Amy Dawel
September 25, 2019
It was through focusing on the love of the game - rather than on winning - that led  Richmond to succeed.
Read More...
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Courtesy Pactimo
Laura Van Gilder Won't Stop Winning
Graham Averill
August 19, 2019
She's one of the most successful cyclists in U.S. history. And she's done it her way.
Read More...
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Sandro Shuh Unsplash
Kliff Kingsbury Will Give Players "Cell Phone Breaks" In Meetings
Darren Urban
March 27, 2019
Kliff Kingsbury believes he'll have to make some adjustments coaching in the NFL compared to what he did in college...
Read More...
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Nik Shuliahin via Unsplash
Burnout Is An Official Medical Diagnosis, World Health Organization Says
Ryan Prior, CNN
May 27, 2019
It's a feeling of extreme work stress that's long been embedded in the cultural lexicon, and now it might be codified in your medical records as well.
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Simon Migaj/Unsplash
Yes, Mindfulness Makes You A Better Athlete
Alex Hutchinson
July 20, 2018
You've heard the hype about meditation and other "non-judgemental awareness" practices. Now check out the data.
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Giancarlo Colombo/Photorun
The Mental Strategy Courtney Frerichs Uses to Stop Stressing About Her Competition
Taylor Dutch 
Jan. 14, 2019
When disappointment became overwhelming, the steeplechase star sought out a sports psychologist to help her through.
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Podcast Appearances
Behind the Podium Podcast
Episode 11: Katie McKee of Mind Fit Performance (formerly Elite Mind and Performance)

Episode 26: Katie McKee and Goal Setting For Success
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Krystal Quiles
Feeling Anxious? The Way You Breathe Could Be Adding To It
Kira M. Newman
Jan. 8, 2021
In his new book Breath: The New Science of a Lost Art, journalist James Nestor argues that modern humans have become pretty bad at this most basic act of living. But can just breathing really make a difference?
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From Learned Helplessness to Learned Hopefulness with Martin Seligman
Dr. Scott Barry Kaufman
June 4, 2020
Dr. Scott Barry Kaufman talks with Martin Seligman, commonly known as the founder of Positive Psychology.
Listen to the Podcast...
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Colin O'Brady
'One Mistake and It's Over':  One Man's Solo Trek Across Antarctica Unaided
Rich Tenorio
May 7, 2020
Colin O’Brady took on the elements, a relentless rival and weeks of isolation as he walked solo and unassisted across the southernmost continent.
Read More...
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Shanna Lockwood/USA TODAY SPORTS
Olympic Ski Star Mikaela Shiffrin Felt Like She'd Throw Up Before Races
Josh Peter
Feb. 11, 2018
The queasiness took hold on race days just before she entered the gate, and ultimately led her to sport psychologist Lauren Loberg.
Read More...
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Tim Goedhart/Unsplash
Why Some People Get Burned Out And Others Don't
Kandi Wiens and Annie McKee
Nov. 23, 2016
Stress and burnout are not the same thing. And while we know that stress often leads to burnout...
Read More...
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Toni L. Sandys/Washington Post
A Sport of Their Own
Liz Clarke
Nov. 8, 2019
A high school wrestler from Kansas spent four years fighting to give girls the OPPORTUNITY to compete in an official state sport.
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Waldo Jaquith, Flickr
The Clutch Gene:  Can You Teach Performance Under Pressure   
Darren Fenster
September 30, 2019
Spend enough time in sports, and you'll discover that some players just have a knack for making the big play at just the right moment.
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Eli Meri Kaplan/Gallery Stock
How to Talk Yourself Into Better Endurance
Alex Hutchinson
July 15, 2019
A new study looks at the effect of subtle wording changes on performance -boosting power of motivational self talk.
Read More...
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Enrico Calderoni/Getty Images
5 Reasons You Want Your Kid To Be A Multi-Sport Athlete
Michelle Smith
Oct. 19, 2016
As many kids got closer to high school, they begin to narrow the field of their sports participation, some by choice and the natural culling process. Others because someone else thinks it's best. 
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iStock
The Hidden Dangers of 'Shake It Off' Parenting
Katie Hurley
Jan. 20, 2016
'Shake It Off' parenting sends mixed messages to young children.    
Read More...
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Photo by EPA/EFE
Andy Murray:  Breaking Away From Sports 'No Pain, No Gain' Culture
January 14, 2019
Transition our of sport, no matter the cause, is difficult.  Andy Murray is the latest elite athlete to be 'forced' into retirement due to injuries and pain.     
Read More....
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Photo by Ashley Mateo
Pre-Marathon Nerves Are A Good Thing - Embrace Them
Ashley Mateo
Nov. 2, 2018
It's a BFD to run 26.2 miles, but a little healthy anxiety can help fuel your race.
Read More...
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Andrew Synoweiz/USA Today Sports
Underrated
Stephen Curry
Jan. 9, 2019
Stephen Curry was and has been underrated and overlooked his whole career, dating back to AAU basketball as a youth. But he has a message for you...his life is no one's story to write but his own. And the same goes for you.  Read More....
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Ronald Martinez/Getty Images
The Easiest Part of the Olympics is the Race Itself, According to Sport Psychologist
Stefanie Lebowitz
Feb. 12, 2018
As athletes from all over the world converge on Pyeongchang this week for the Winter Olympics, the city will be abuzz with nervous energy. The only time the athletes will get a reprieve from their anxiety? During the race.
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Photo by Unknown
How Sport Psychology Benefits Musicians
 Cherie Yurco
Nov. 19, 2013
Between juggling rehearsals, performances, and a day job, you may feel you are under constant pressure as a recreational musician. Aside from the physical demands, your mental skills are put to the test.
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When Everything's on the Line
Allie Grasgreen
March 30, 2012
The athletes who compete in the final four have much more going on then just basketball. Sport psychologists help them rein it all in.
Read More...
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Terry Scott/Barcroft Media via Getty Images
Five Secrets of Mentally Tough Athletes
Natalie Gingerich
Oct, 2, 2018
Dr. Colleen Hacker, a renowned performance coach to the pros, shares insights about mental toughness and sports performance.
Read More...
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Photo by Graham Betchart
Meet the Sport Psychologist Training The Minds of the NBA's Top Prospects
Matthew Giles
June 23, 2016
Graham Betchart built a career as a "mental skills" coach for top NBA draft prospects like Andrew Wiggins and Karl-Anthony Towns. Now he's trying to build a brand.
Read More...
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TheLeapTV/YouTube
A Sport Psychologist Shares the Visualization Technique That's Helped Super Bowl Champions and Olympic Gold Medalists
Richard Feloni
Aug. 21, 2017
You may associate visualization techniques with feel-good self-help, but some of the world's greatest athletes take the practice very seriously.
Read More...
Talking Strength Podcast
Talking Strength:
​Katie Lovallo, Mind Fit
We Are Z Podcast
Season 1 Episode 11:   Sports and Social Media
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Francesco Sambati/Getty Images
"Stress Hormone" Cortisol Linked to Early Toll on Thinking Ability
Karen Weintraub
Oct. 25, 2018
The stresses of everyday life may start taking a toll on the brain in relatively early middle age, new research shows.
Read More...
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Buda Mendes/Getty Images
How a Sport Psychologist Uses Mindfulness to Prepare Athletes to Win Olympic Gold
Esta Pratt-Kielley
March 10, 2020
A mindfulness practice can be effective for athletes looking to sharpen their mental focus.
Read More...
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Ivo De Bruijn/Stocksy
Yes, Your Tired Mind is Slowing You Down
Alex Hutchinson
April 18, 2020
New research on mental fatigue suggests that even elite runners perform worse after a 45-minute computer task. 
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Illustration by Maddy Price
Help Your Child Overcome Their Fears
Melinda Wenner Moyer
Nov. 18, 2019
Kids can have phobias about needles, dogs, darkness, and more. Here's how to help them cope. 
Read More...
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WWPIS Blog
Understanding How Our Children Learn - A Dynamic and Messy Process
Gordon MacLelland
Oct. 9, 2019
Learning can be a really dynamic and sometimes messy process.            Read More...
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Anthony Tori/Unsplash
Your Vocabulary Makes All the Difference
Joey Velez
August 2019
Fundamentally changing something ingrained into our DNA at a subconscious level is a difficult task. But starting the process of adjusting our vocabulary can help to reduce the amount of pressure we place on ourselves.
Read More
(pages 160-161)...
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Brian Smith/ISIPhotos.com
The Curb
Carli Lloyd
U.S. Women's
National Team
June 6, 2019
Carli Lloyd discusses the hard work, sacrifice, and mindset it takes when you are truly committed to your craft.
Read More...
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Photo By Rania Matar
Jackie MacMullan Is The Greatest Chronicler Of Basketball's Golden Age
Louisa Thomas
May 12, 2019
The acclaimed NBA writer on her days as the only woman in the locker room, and the evolving challenge of reporting on sports.
Read More...
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Photo by Alex Cohen
What Entrepreneurs Can Learn
From A Sport Psychologist For Olympians
Pierson and Pete Krass
Oct. 29, 2018
The unique emotional and mental challenges faced by entrepreneurs. Read More....
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Photo by Jen Burdis
Ask a Thru-Hiker: How Can I Get Over My Self-Doubt?
Liz "Snorkel" Thomas
Jan. 7, 2019
Thru-hiking a long trail is hard enough without constantly second guessing yourself along the way. Our writer shares her strategies for banishing worries before and during your hike.
Read More...
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iStock
Putting Mental Tricks From Running to Work in the Rest of Your Life
Jen A. Miller
Jan. 19, 2019
The strategies that get you through tough times in your running life can cross over to help with the tedious or painful aspects of daily life.
  Read More...
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Reuters/Dominic Ebenbichler
What Sport Psychologists do for Olympic Athletes That Coaches Can't
Akshat Rathi
Aug. 9, 2016
An athlete may stand alone on the podium to collect their Olympic medal, but it takes a team to get there. One of the most critical additions to an athlete's support staff is a Sport Psychologist.
Read More...
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Getty Images/Ringer Illustration
The NFL's Mindfulness Movement is Spreading
Robert Mays
Aug. 15, 2017
Pete Carroll isn't the only football decision maker obsessed with sport psychology anymore. The Falcons, Colts, and 49ers have also embraced mindfulness training...
Read More...
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Brocreative/Shutterstock
The Psychology Behind New Approaches to Youth Sports
Laura M Miele, Ph.D.
July 10, 2018
Why to shift from a coach-centered approach to an athlete-centered approach.
Read More...
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Photo by Dan Saelinger
Train Your Brain to Run Your Best
Michelle Hamilton
May 16, 2013
Science has confirmed that performance at the end of an endurance event has as much to do with psychology as physiology. Thinking is a behavior....
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Going for the Gold: Using Sport Psychology to Improve Teaching and Learning
Gabie Smith
March, 2007
Students are often willing to stay up late watching their favorite sports, they often feel less driven to focus on academics.
Read More..
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The Science Behind How Sportsmanship Helped Desiree Linden Win Boston
Kiera Carter
April 19, 2018
Here's what the research and experts say about how helping others can help you achieve your goals.
Read More...
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Adrian Moorhouse
Applying Sport Psychology to Business 
Adrian Moorhouse
Dec. 3, 2012
Sport is, and always will be, a powerful metaphor for business. But beyond metaphors, principles from the world of sport psychology can be applied to organizations to enable them to perform better.
Read More...
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Photo by Sean Andrew Murray
Using Sport Psychology for Childbirth
Serena Solomon
Jan. 15, 2019
I wanted to face childbirth with an athlete's strength, confidence, and determination. So I turned to Sport Psychology for advice.
Read More...
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Jonathan Newton/The Washington Post
In Baseball, Mental Coaches Were Once Seen for the 'Weak-Minded.' Now They're Essential.
Chelsea Janes
Dec. 26, 2018
These days, mental coaches are the norm in baseball. The collective bargaining agreement negotiated between the league and the Major League Baseball Players’ Union requires all teams provide access to one. Read More...
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