Sports psychology enhances mental fitness

Kelly Capehart Guest Writer

What aspect of athletic training is just as important as a fit cardiovascular system or a strong throwing arm, but can’t be worked on in the gym? Ask any student athlete, and they are likely to know: Mental preparedness is a vital and complicated part of playing any sport.

Sports psychology, the study of any psychological factor that affects participation in athletics, is designed to teach skills and techniques that improve performance and motivation. It is divided into two treatment areas: the mental aspect of in-game performance and the mental health of the student-athlete. For complete treatment, both aspects must be addressed.

According to the American Psychological Association, using psychologist-recommended techniques, such as visualization, can “reduce stress, build confidence, and ultimately get a better performance.”

A sports psychologist can recommend measures to help an athlete compete at a higher level and perform in a way that might not be possible without outside counseling.

An ESPN.com reported in an August 2006 article that over 30 Division I schools, including some powerhouse athletic programs, employ sports psychologists for their athletes. At Vassar, Professor of Psychology Jay Bean is the go-to guy for athletes. Bean has worked with the men’s volleyball team since current Head Coach Jonathan Penn arrived at Vassar in 1996.

Cross country and track coach James McCowan also finds that sports psychology strategies are critical for his players because as he explained, “Running is very much a mental sport.” He stressed that this psychological facet shouldn’t be neglected.

“You can be physically fit, in the best shape of your life, and if you’re not confident heading into the race, if you don’t have a plan, if you’re not ready to deal with whatever frustrations or surprises arise…you might not be able to have that best performance. And that’s what we’re shooting for,” said McCowan.

Bringing in a sports psychologist gives a fresh voice to the runners, “I can kind of have the same catchphrases, the same mantras that I use with the team over and over again,” McCowan said. “[Bean] just has a different kind of soothing approach, which is very calming, and I think it’s a nice shift—it changes gears a little bit.”

Zoë Carpenter ’11, a member of the track and cross country teams, said that a sports psychology perspective has been helpful to her. “He talked a lot about focus and how, especially when you’re running a race, you need to be focused on running the race, not thinking about other things,” she said.

Bean suggested a number of creative ways for runners to deal with distractions during competition, such wearing a rubber band around their wrists so they can snap themselves if their minds start to wander during a race. Carpenter said that this technique was especially helpful to her during season.

“I did try the snapping the-wrist-thing with the rubber band, and that helped. That gets you going, although it hurts,” she said.

These psychological methods, however, are often tailored to fit specific sports. “[Bean] and I have begun early preparation to try and produce some volleyball-specific training methods,” said Penn.

“[He] covers all of our mental training bases, addressing relaxation, imagery, self-talk mental triggers.”

While many, like Carpenter and Penn, feel that Bean’s help has been invaluable, sports psychology remains controversial. Penn said that reports from his players have ranged from “avid enthusiasm to disdain…ironically, the people that don’t buy into it are the ones who need it most.”

He noted, however, that those players are few and far between. “Very few athletes [are] not giving it a legitimate try,” he said.

Whether or not athletes are unfaltering fans of sports psychology, few can deny the effectiveness of the kind of mental coaching it provides. Head Athletic Trainer Jeff Carter agreed, “I think if your mental status isn’t where it should be, it’s going to affect everything you do.”

Penn echoed the importance of having a good mental game. In fact, he claimed that when it comes to a sports psychology regimen, he “would no more give it up than…fitness or weight training.”

Even though some might not consider an active sports psychology regimen to be as critical as physical training, Penn has found that “It can be the difference between mediocrity and excellence.”