Perfectionist athletes often worry too much about what others (coaches, teammates, parents) think about their performance. We call this social approval fears in our work. This is not only a huge distraction for athletes, but also a source of pressure to perform up to others’ expectations. This is the number one reason athletes cripple themselves with fear of failure. Worrying about what others think leads to tentative or cautious performances. Perfectionists: Learn how to overcome worrying about what others think in this podcast.  Resources for Athletes, Coach, and Sports Parents  Learn about Mental Game Coaching For Athletes Download our a FREE Mental Toughness Report Read our Sports Psychology Articles Check out our Sports Psychology Audio Programs  *Subscribe to  The Sports Psychology Podcast at iTunes

How to Play for Yourself During Competition

A sports psychology, mental toughness, and mental training radio show that seeks to help athletes, coaches and sports parents reach peak performance. Learn the latest mental training strategies to identify ineffective mindsets, improve sports confidence, and boost your performance. Get free mental game tips from sports psychology expert Dr. Patrick Cohn.

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Welcome to the Sports Psychology Podcast by Dr. Patrick Coach of Peak Performance Sports. Dr. Cohn and Georgia Miller, CMPC discuss the challenges sports parents face with young athletes and how to make sports a better experience. Learn how to spot mental game challenges in athletes, what to say before and after games, and how to improve communication with young athletes. In this episode of the Sport Psychology Podcast, you learn:  Is Your Athlete Playing Safe or Just Appear Lazy? Dr. Patrick Cohn is a master mental performance coach who works with professional athletes at Peak Performance Sports, LLC. ​​ Improve your mindset for sports with our certified mental performance coaches. Learn more at peaksports.com. Resources for Athletes, Coaches, and Sports Parents  Learn about Mental Performance Coaching For Athletes Download our a FREE Mental Toughness Report Read our articles for Sports Parents Check out our Sports Psychology Audio Programs  *Subscribe to The Sports Psychology Podcast on iTunes *Subscribe to The Sports Psychology Podcast on Spotify  

Is Your Athlete Playing Safe or Just Appear Lazy?

In this episode, Dr. Cohn answers a question from a reader about an athlete going backwards deispite many lessons. Why would athletes go backwards? Here's the question of the week: RICK: "My daughter is a 16-year-old softball pitcher & volleyball. Despite many lessons, she has gone backwards with her pitching. She cannot get out of an inning...she either walks the batter or hits the batter in the foot. I think she gets overly anxious and has lost her confidence. She is a little timid at times and seems afraid of making mistakes. How can she improve?" Peak Performance Sports, LLC helps athletes and performers improve mental skills for success in sports. We work with athletes in all sports - junior to professional - via video mental coaching from anywhere in the world. Please contact us for more details. Resources for Athletes, Coaches, and Sports Parents  Learn about Mental Game Coaching For Athletes Download our a FREE Mental Toughness Report Read our Sports Psychology Articles Check out our Sports Psychology Audio Programs  *Subscribe to The Sports Psychology Podcast on iTunes *Subscribe to The Sports Psychology Podcast on Spotify

Too Many Lessons or Just Anxious?

In this episode, Dr. Cohn answers a question from a reader about why ball players only have the yips in game situations. It often each to throw bull pens, but in game situations is when the yips can show up. Here is the question I received: DEREK: "I pitch and have the yips. When I throw batting practice or pitch with just a catcher, it’s okay. As soon as a batter enters the batter’s box, I start to YIP.  Game situations or batters in a simulated situation are problems. Why does the yips get worse in a game situation?" Peak Performance Sports, LLC helps athletes and performers improve mental skills for success in sports. We work with athletes in all sports - junior to professional - via video mental coaching from anywhere in the world. Please contact us for more details. Resources for Athletes, Coaches, and Sports Parents  Learn about Mental Game Coaching For Athletes Download our a FREE Mental Toughness Report Read our Sports Psychology Articles Check out our Sports Psychology Audio Programs  *Subscribe to The Sports Psychology Podcast on iTunes *Subscribe to The Sports Psychology Podcast on Spotify

Why Ball Players Have Yips in Game Situations

In this episode, Dr. Cohn answers a question from a parent about how to introduce mental training to young athletes who are not familiar with it. Here's the question of the week: JOY: "I was hoping to find some kind of concise explanation for teenagers on what mental training is and how it can improve their performance – when they practice mental skills consistently." Peak Performance Sports, LLC helps athletes and performers improve mental skills for success in sports. We work with athletes in all sports - junior to professional - via video mental coaching from anywhere in the world. Please contact us for more details. Resources for Athletes, Coaches, and Sports Parents  Learn about Mental Game Coaching For Athletes Download our a FREE Mental Toughness Report Read our Sports Psychology Articles Check out our Sports Psychology Audio Programs  *Subscribe to The Sports Psychology Podcast on iTunes *Subscribe to The Sports Psychology Podcast on Spotify

How to Explain Mental Training to Teens

In this episode, Dr. Cohn answers a question from a reader about how to stop making comparisons to others atheltes and paying too much attention to their score as this can hurt confidence and lead to self-intimidation. Here's the question of the week: RACHEL: "How do I ignore the other contestants score when they announce it on the loudspeaker. They announce it right as I'm warming up about to skate. I can't cover my ears because it's not professional, but how do I hear the score and just not care?" Peak Performance Sports, LLC helps athletes and performers improve mental skills for success in sports. We work with athletes in all sports - junior to professional - via video mental coaching from anywhere in the world. Please contact us for more details. Resources for Athletes, Coaches, and Sports Parents  Learn about Mental Game Coaching For Athletes Download our a FREE Mental Toughness Report Read our Sports Psychology Articles Check out our Sports Psychology Audio Programs  *Subscribe to The Sports Psychology Podcast on iTunes *Subscribe to The Sports Psychology Podcast on Spotify

How to Play for Yourself During Competition

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