Inside the Mind of a Professional Athlete

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Vinny Padilla Mr. Archibald Advisory Draft Inside the Mind of A Professional Athlete There is so much more that goes into the everyday life and routines of a professional athlete then one may expect. There is two time Cy Young Award winner Clayton Kershaw sitting in solitude in the outfield, minutes before a post season start. There is the worlds most decorated Olympian Michael Phelps in what seems to be some kind of a trance while listening to music seconds before he mounts the starting block. There is Nomar Garciaparra rotating his ankles, adjusting his batting gloves, and patting each forearm multiple times as a form of religious ritual seconds before the pitch is thrown. An athletes mind must be in tuned with the body in order to carry out the amazing feats that professional athletes do. Without proper mental self-control, an athlete may collapse under the pressure of aspects such as the temptation of steroids, pre game anxiety, intense training schedules, and slumps. Pro athletes use a combination of vigorous mental and physical exercises and techniques to preform at their peak ability. It is critical that an athlete train his mind for performance as he does his body. “Sports psychology can help athletes looking to improve their focus and confidence” (Smith and Kays). Needless to say, confidence and focus alone can completely change the outcome of an athlete’s performance. “The mental skills in excellent performance are not just a single purpose activity” (Smith and Kays). Elite athletes recognize the many factors that are involved in sports psychology. “Sports psychology ranges from detailed attention to perceptual processes, to mental skills training, and a broad investigation of perfectionism, injury and eating disorders” (Smith and Kays). These characteristics of sports psychology assist athletes in dealing with stress, and coping with

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