Secrets of Sports Psychology Revealed

by Wolff, Rick

• ISBN13: 9781510716377
• ISBN10: 1510716378
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2018-01-16
• Publisher: Skyhorse Pub Co Inc

Summary

The world of sports psychology and in the introduction of mental skills coaches has exploded into the athletic mainstream over the last few decades. Before then, the attitude regarding such training was extremely conservative and “old school”—the prevailing philosophy was that “any athlete who needs to talk with a shrink needs to have their head examined.”

Fortunately, with today’s modern athletes, the dark ages of mental training in sports have gone away and times have changed for the better. But as with any growing industry, there are lots of new and untested pathways to one’s mental performance training in practices and games. But depending on who you talk to, the advice that is given can vary widely—and sometimes, even be contradictory.

The Secrets of Sports Psychology Revealed by Rick Wolff, one of the pioneers in the field of sports psychology, is based upon his many years of clinical, hands-on work with top professional and amateur athletes in a variety of sports. He provides real insight into what does—and doesn’t—work. Specifically:

Do pre-game visualization techniques really work?

Is it OK to be superstitious, or are those rituals counterproductive?

Does taking a deep breath or two in a tight situation really help?

What’s the best way to learn how to make adjustments in one’s game?

These direct questions, and many others, are presented and answered in this easy to use how-to guide aimed directly at athletes and coaches. The answers are right to the point and are based upon the author’s observations and work over the years with top athletes.

Author Biography

Rick Wolff is a nationally-recognized expert in the field of sports psychology. Wolff, a former professional baseball player in the Detroit Tigers’ organization, also served as the roving sports psychology coach for the Cleveland Indians from 1989 to 1994 and has worked with numerous top professional and collegiate athletes. A direct protégé of the famed sports psychology coach Harvey Dorfman, Wolff can be heard every Sunday morning on WFAN Sports Radio in New York City where he discusses key sports parenting and sports psychology issues. An honors graduate of Harvard University as well as Long Island University, Wolff was a member of the Crimson baseball team that played in the College World Series in 1971. He was ultimately drafted and signed by the Tigers after his junior year. Always in demand from the national sports media, Wolff has appeared on all the major television networks to provide his insights on sports. He resides in Armonk, New York.