Secrets of Sports Psychology Revealed: Proven Techniques to Elevate Your Performance

Description

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.

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 protege 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.

"I met Rick as a young minor league player, close to thirty years ago. He was my introduction to sports psychology, making a big impact during the most formative years of my professional career. Rick helped me better understand how to handle the successes and inevitable failures associated with high competition. To this day I consider his counseling to have been an important element in my maturation as a baseball person, and even in my ongoing efforts to be prepared for what comes next." --JERRY DIPOTO, Executive VP and General Manager, Seattle Mariners "Every winner in athletics, business, medicine, etc. demonstrates qualities that you can observe as well as those inner attributes that you can't visually see. Rick Wolff, in his latest book, clearly defines and illustrates, in a practical way, how you can improve your performance both on the field as well as from behind your desk. His proven approach will be a guide for you to personally enhance your mental and emotional skills." --AL GOLDIS, former major league executive and member of the Baseball Scouts Hall of Fame "Through his unique firsthand experience, Rick Wolff is able to consider the evolution of sports psychology and provide each athlete with easily applied tools and approaches to elevate his or her game. The mental side of sport is the key to bridging the gap between potential and performance and Rick's Secrets of Sports Psychology Revealed will provide anyone interested in elevating their game with easily applied approaches to consistent, improved mental performance." --MARK A. SHAPIRO, President and CEO, Toronto Blue Jays "We in baseball face a daunting task of trying to discern which player has that little "extra" that will propel him to the major league level ahead of others of the same skill sets. There are many aspiring athletes out there who want nothing more than to ascend to that next stratum. Rick Wolff in his new book can help you achieve that goal with his use of mental cue cards, muscle memory, and visualization techniques to augment your physical skills. He breaks down problem areas--believing in oneself, dealing with nervousness, and working through adversity and turns them into positives. Any coach or aspiring player needs to read this book to learn the secrets of being ahead of the competition before the game even begins. If you're interested in elevating your game and leaving behind some of those stumbling blocks of the past, then this book can only expedite the accomplishment of your goals. Physical ability takes you so far, but the mental and psychological sides of your persona shape your destiny. Read it and you'll be ahead of the competition." --JOE McILVAINE, Senior Advisor, Baltimore Orioles "There's a substantial amount of confusion and mystery surrounding sports psychology. But if you want a highly readable primer that cuts through all the clutter, I'd highly recommend Rick Wolff's Secrets of Sports Psychology Revealed. It contains tremendous insights for any top athlete." --JOHN HART, former general manager for the Cleveland Indians, Texas Rangers, and Atlanta Braves "The difference between success and failure between the lines is in your head--remember, most hitters enshrined in Cooperstown failed in 7 of every 10 at-bats in their Hall of Fame careers. Rick ventured early into the world of sports psychology, and his approach to performance has helped athletes in all sports achieve from the little to the big leagues. This is a valuable read for athletes and coaches alike." --GEORGE C. PAPPAS, International and Minor League Operations, Tampa Bay Rays, and author of A Tribe Reborn: How the Cleveland Indians of the '90s Went From Cellar Dwellers to Playoff Contenders. "I met Rick as a young minor league player, close to thirty years ago. He was my introduction to sports psychology, making a big impact during the most formative years of my professional career. Rick helped me better understand how to handle the successes and inevitable failures associated with high competition. To this day I consider his counseling to have been an important element in my maturation as a baseball person, and even in my ongoing efforts to be prepared for what comes next." --JERRY DIPOTO, Executive VP and General Manager, Seattle Mariners "Every winner in athletics, business, medicine, etc. demonstrates qualities that you can observe as well as those inner attributes that you can't visually see. Rick Wolff, in his latest book, clearly defines and illustrates, in a practical way, how you can improve your performance both on the field as well as from behind your desk. His proven approach will be a guide for you to personally enhance your mental and emotional skills." --AL GOLDIS, former major league executive and member of the Baseball Scouts Hall of Fame "Through his unique firsthand experience, Rick Wolff is able to consider the evolution of sports psychology and provide each athlete with easily applied tools and approaches to elevate his or her game. The mental side of sport is the key to bridging the gap between potential and performance and Rick's Secrets of Sports Psychology Revealed will provide anyone interested in elevating their game with easily applied approaches to consistent, improved mental performance." --MARK A. SHAPIRO, President and CEO, Toronto Blue Jays "We in baseball face a daunting task of trying to discern which player has that little "extra" that will propel him to the major league level ahead of others of the same skill sets. There are many aspiring athletes out there who want nothing more than to ascend to that next stratum. Rick Wolff in his new book can help you achieve that goal with his use of mental cue cards, muscle memory, and visualization techniques to augment your physical skills. He breaks down problem areas--believing in oneself, dealing with nervousness, and working through adversity and turns them into positives. Any coach or aspiring player needs to read this book to learn the secrets of being ahead of the competition before the game even begins. If you're interested in elevating your game and leaving behind some of those stumbling blocks of the past, then this book can only expedite the accomplishment of your goals. Physical ability takes you so far, but the mental and psychological sides of your persona shape your destiny. Read it and you'll be ahead of the competition." --JOE McILVAINE, Senior Advisor, Baltimore Orioles "There's a substantial amount of confusion and mystery surrounding sports psychology. But if you want a highly readable primer that cuts through all the clutter, I'd highly recommend Rick Wolff's Secrets of Sports Psychology Revealed. It contains tremendous insights for any top athlete." --JOHN HART, former general manager for the Cleveland Indians, Texas Rangers, and Atlanta Braves "The difference between success and failure between the lines is in your head--remember, most hitters enshrined in Cooperstown failed in 7 of every 10 at-bats in their Hall of Fame careers. Rick ventured early into the world of sports psychology, and his approach to performance has helped athletes in all sports achieve from the little to the big leagues. This is a valuable read for athletes and coaches alike." --GEORGE C. PAPPAS, International and Minor League Operations, Tampa Bay Rays, and author of A Tribe Reborn: How the Cleveland Indians of the '90s Went From Cellar Dwellers to Playoff Contenders.