A Sport Psychology Workbook for Riders

by Reilly, Ann S

• ISBN13: 9780851317717
• ISBN10: 0851317715
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2000-07-01
• Publisher: J A Allen & Co Ltd

Summary

An expert in the field of sport psychology outlines mental strategies that will help riders attain peak performance.

Author Biography

Ann Reilly has taught at the University of Virginia and Sweet Briar College. She is co-editor of the standard work Sport Psychology: Psychological Considerations in Maximizing Sport Performance. She lives in Virginia.

Table of Contents

List of Photographs	ix
Acknowledgements	xi
Winning the Mind Game	1	(4)
Peak Performance	5	(8)
The Peak Performance Curve	8	(1)
Ride to Win	9	(3)
Hints for Developing a Positive Focus	11	(1)
Skill Development and Peak Performance	12	(1)
Fatigue and Peak Performance	12	(1)
Focusing in the Present	13	(4)
Attaining Positive Focus	14	(3)
From Negative to Positive	17	(8)
`Tuning Out' the Negative	20	(4)
Openness to Change	24	(1)
Self-Confidence: Without a Doubt	25	(12)
Winning does not Cause Confidence	26	(1)
Self-talk and Self-confidence	26	(1)
Taking Care of Yourself	27	(2)
Taking Control	29	(1)
Why Some Riders are Afraid of Self-confidence	30	(1)
Training and Trusting -- Confidence in Competition	30	(1)
Self-sabotage	31	(2)
Common Self-sabotaging Thoughts	32	(1)
Do's and Don'ts for Developing Self-confidence	33	(4)
Motivation	37	(20)
The Perfectionist Rider	38	(6)
Beating the Perfectionist `Block'	42	(2)
Are You a Perfectionist?	44	(2)
Overcoming Perfectionism	46	(5)
Perfectionism and Concentration	47	(1)
Learning the Balancing Act	48	(2)
Patience, Humour and Rest	50	(1)
`Letting go' -- a Summary	51	(1)
Underachieving Riders	51	(2)
Concentration Focus of Under-motivated Riders	52	(1)
Increasing Motivation in Under-motivated Riders	53	(1)
When Motivation is Balanced	53	(4)
Forget About the Outcome	57	(12)
Focus on the Process	59	(2)
Goals and Goal-setting	61	(5)
With Goals Come Obstacles	66	(2)
Hints for Overcoming Obstacles	66	(1)
Overcoming Your Own Mental Objections	67	(1)
After the Dream	68	(1)
Visualize What You Want to Happen	69	(14)
Focusing on Distractions	70	(1)
Creating Images	70	(2)
Mastery and Coping Rehearsal	72	(11)
Mastery and Coping Tapes	73	(2)
Sample Mastery Script	75	(5)
Sample Coping Script	80	(3)
Concentration	83	(13)
Focusing Attention	84	(4)
What to Concentrate on	88	(1)
Practice and Concentration	89	(2)
Threats to Concentration	91	(1)
`Psych-Outs'	91	(1)
Slumps	91	(1)
Regaining Concentration After a Bad Performance	92	(1)
Performance Routines	92	(4)
Sample Performance Routine	93	(3)
At the Competition	96	(15)
Preparing to Ride Courses or Tests	96	(4)
Memorizing the Course	96	(1)
Developing Your Plan	97	(3)
Preparation for a Three-day Event	100	(4)
The Dressage Test	101	(2)
The Cross-country	103	(1)
The Showjumping Course	104	(1)
Responding to Mental Challenges	104	(7)
When the Course Looks Unmanageable	104	(1)
When the Jumps Look Huge	105	(1)
The Spooky Jump	105	(1)
The Jump Your Horse Dislikes	106	(1)
The Spectre of Results	106	(5)
Getting the Basics Right	111	(1)
The Need for Correct Technique	111	(2)
Dealing with Training Problems	113
Letting go of perfectionism and coping successfully with challenges enabled Kathy Doyle Newman to produce Ashford Castle, one of the most successful show hunters ever.	41	(45)
Abigail Lufkin 1999 Pan Am Games bronze medallist, demonstrates total focus.	86	(15)
Robert Stevenson and Risky Business representing Canada in the dressage phase of the 1992 Olympic Three-Day Event.	101	(11)
You are never too young or too old to work on the basics. Seven-year-old Katherine Newman shows how it is done!	112	(3)
Jessie Keeney reminds us to have FUN!	115	(9)
Putting it all together. Mental and physical training, good nutrition and a great equine partner will make your dreams come true. The author and her faithful partner Bye Farr.	124