Leif H. Smith & Todd M. Kays 
Sports Psychology For Dummies 

Acquiring the winning edge in sports-the mental edge

Mental conditioning is now seen by many to be as critical to
sports success as physical conditioning. And for parents eager to
ensure their children have a winning edge-as well as a future
college scholarship-nothing could be more critical to success. This
book offers readers a comprehensive program to gain that winning
edge, providing training tips and techniques along with helpful
advice to keep in mind while competing. With practical advice on
how to strengthen concentration (and when you shouldn’t
concentrate), talk yourself into winning, and develop routines that
will lead to consistent improvement, the book’s full personalized
program will help any athlete gain over time the winning edge in
any sport

* With tips on how to regulate your energy to avoid exhaustion;
and how to enhance your team’s chemistry through sports
psychology

* Loaded with real-world examples from amateur and professional
sports of all kinds

Applicable to not only sports-but business as well-Sports
Psychology For Dummies will enhance any competitor’s
motivation, focus, and will to win, when facing life’s toughest
challenges.

Table of Content

Introduction 1

Part I: Getting the Winning Edge: Sports Psychology
Fundamentals 7

Chapter 1: Introducing Sports Psychology 9

Chapter 2: The Gladiator Mind: Strengthening What’s Under
the Helmet 17

Chapter 3: Setting Goals: Aiming High and Hitting the
Bull’s-Eye 29

Chapter 4: Stoking the Fire in Your Belly: How to Fan the Flames
of Motivation 39

Chapter 5: Swagger: The Art and Science of Building Real
Confidence 55

Part II: Your Mental Toolkit for Success 69

Chapter 6: Mastering the Art of Focus 71

Chapter 7: Seeing Is Believing: What You Need to Know about
Imagery 87

Chapter 8: Self-Talk: Making Sure You’re Not Yelling in
Your Own Ear 105

Chapter 9: Getting a Hold of Your Schedule 119

Part III: Staying Competitive: Sports Psychology in Action
131

Chapter 10: Winning Habits: How Routines Improve Performance in
Competition 133

Chapter 11: Handling Pressure: Playing in the Fire without
Getting Burned 149

Chapter 12: Staying Strong: The Importance of Managing Energy
Levels 165

Chapter 13: Handling Adversity: The Psychological Art of
Bouncing Back 181

Part IV: Improving Team Performance with Sports Psychology
199

Chapter 14: Communicating as a Team 201

Chapter 15: Leading Your Team to Victory: Athletes as Leaders
213

Chapter 16: Developing Teamwork 229

Part V: Sports Psychology for Coaches and Parents 243

Chapter 17: Coaching Today’s Athlete 245

Chapter 18: Parenting an Athlete: How to Be More than Just a Fan
263

Part VI: The Part of Tens 281

Chapter 19: Ten Ways You Can Use Sports Psychology at the Office
283

Chapter 20: Ten Ways to Be a Better Competitor 293

Chapter 21: Ten Ways to Manage Stress Better 299

Chapter 22: Ten Ways to Parent an Athlete 309

Index 317

About the author

Leif H. Smith, Psy D, is president of Personal Best Consulting, a sports psychology and performance consultation firm. Todd M. Kays, Ph D, is president of the Athletic Mind Institute, a sports and performance consulting firm.