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Sports speaker advises mental training
August 25, 2005
By Duncan Pickard
Many student athletes turn to weight training and running to prepare their bodies for the school sports year. But focusing on physical readiness without paying attention to mental readiness is not the most effective way to maximize one’s potential, according to Greg Dale, PhD, an associate professor and sport psychology consultant at Duke University.
Mr. Dale spoke to approximately 400 students, parents, and coaches at the Martha’s Vineyard Regional High School performing arts center Monday about sports preparedness and how to get the most out of high school athletics.
Mr. Dale, a nationally known speaker and author of three books, explained the importance of becoming not only physically but also mentally prepared for competition. He encouraged students to become “mentally strong” in several key areas relating to performance, including pressure, overcoming adversity, and leadership.
“All sports are at least 50 percent mental, but how much time do you spend mentally preparing yourself for your sport?” Mr. Dale asked the students.
Mr. Dale said that succumbing to pressure is the sign of a mentally weak athlete. “Pressure is created in your mind, and is only as strong as you let the crowd, your parents, coaches, and teammates affect you,” said Mr. Dale.
“In basketball, what is the difference between taking a foul shot when the score is two-two in the first quarter, and taking a foul shot with two seconds left and down by one?” asked Mr. Dale. “Just the pressure of missing, which is only in your mind.”
Mr. Dale also explained that the ability to focus on the competition is crucial to an athlete’s success. As an example he told a story about Hank Aaron, Major League Baseball’s all-time home run leader. While in the dugout, Hank Aaron would look through the eyelet of his hat at the pitcher’s arm and try to focus on the pitcher’s release point. “This would give him something to focus on while hitting,” said Mr. Dale, “and contributed to his mental toughness.”
Mr. Dale asked students what distracts them during practice, from boyfriends and girlfriends to school work. “How much control do you have over the opposite sex or over the English exam the next day during practice?” Mr. Dale asked. “Try not to be distracted by things you cannot control at the time.”
Mr. Dale discussed principles of leadership and challenged all athletes — “not just seniors or captains” — to become leaders on their teams. “You don’t need to be the most talented kid on your team to be a leader,” he said. “Duke’s men’s soccer team made it to the Final Four last year. The team’s two captains rarely played but were great leaders.”
Many of those who attended Monday’s session found it useful. “Mr. Dale was informative and insightful,” said Anthony Capobianco, a junior and member of the school’s soccer team. “No one had ever made the distinction to me between mental and physical preparation.”
Glen Field, athletic director and organizer of the event, said he hoped Mr. Dale’s talk would help students to focus and commit to achieving at a higher level. “These are good topics to think about and discuss,” he said.
Following the talk to students, Mr. Dale addressed parents on the role they play in maximizing their child’s potential in sports. “I encourage parents to keep sports in perspective with relation to the rest of their child’s life,” said Mr. Dale, “and to be good role models. Is taking your child to Fenway Park only to yell at an umpire a valuable experience for him or her?”
On Tuesday Mr. Dale conducted a three-hour workshop for coaches. “The coaches’ workshop is a much more interactive program,” said Mr. Dale. “We do not discuss Xs and Os; rather, we discuss coaching style, philosophy, motivation, and leadership skills.”
“As part of the program, I ask coaches to describe their best and worst kid to coach. Anyone can coach the best kid, but I am trying to get coaches to be able to inspire the most challenging kid to be successful.”
“I thought Mr. Dale’s points about the roles of each player on a team were important,” said Michael Joyce, boys basketball head coach. “It’s not always about playing time or points scored, but how you are remembered by your teammates when the season is over. I think those values are important for any team.”
“The coaches’ workshop is important for our staff,” said Mr. Field. “There is no other real opportunity for professional development for our coaches beyond skill work for an individual sport. There is no other program on how to be a good coach.”
Mr. Dale finished his talk to the students by challenging them, especially the seniors, to enjoy the sports season. “Odds are that this will be the last opportunity for you to play an organized sport,” Mr. Dale told the seniors. “It may feel good to know after a football practice that that is one more practice closer to the end. But try and think of that as one less opportunity to get better.”
Duncan Pickard is a senior at the Martha’s Vineyard Regional High School and editor of the High School View student newspaper.
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