Damon Burton & Bernie HollidayUniversity of Idaho

What is Mental Skills Training (MST)?

How important is the mental side of competition?

What factors would increase or decrease your motivation to actually use mental training?

Most athletes develop mental training tools and skills through trial and error.

MST’s goal is to enhance the development and automation of mental training tools and skills through a comprehensive and systematic program.

Good MST programs speed up and enhance the development process, ensure that performers develop more fully, perform at a higher level, enjoy sport more and transfer these skills to all other areas of their lives.

Have you ever “played down” to a lesser-skilled opponent’s ability level?

Have you ever choked at a critical point in a game or match?

Have you ever thought about non-sport-related activities during practice or competition?

Have you ever skipped a workout because you didn’t feel motivated, energized, or focused?

Preseason Season Postseason

Preseason Season Postseason

Lack of knowledge about MST and sport psychology

“You have to be confident!” “Concentrate!” and “Relax out there!”

Belief that mental skills are innate and unchangeable

“That Bernie’s just a head case under pressure”

Lack of time Buying into all of the MST myths…

MST is for problem athletes only◦No more than 10% of athletes require clinical services

MST is for elite athletes only◦Youth athletes to professionals◦Athletes, businessmen, actors, performers, musicians, and surgeons use MST

The “magic wand” myth MST doesn’t work and isn’t useful

Elite performer researchAnecdotal reports from athletes and coaches

Intervention studies◦Weinberg & Comar (1994)◦Vealey (1994)◦Meyers, Whelan & Murphy (1996)

Mental Training Tools

MENTAL SKILLS

•goal setting• imagery•self talk•relaxation and energization

•motivation•energy management•attention•stress management•self-confidence

Old School…

1. Education Concentration

lecture…2. Acquisition

Concentration activities…

3. Practice Automate

concentration performing activities daily

Problem: Athletes had trouble integrating MST into competition

New School…

1. Education2. Acquisition3. Practice4. Implementation

Skill-transfer strategies

5. Performance Less-learned

skills break down under pressure and old habits resurface

1. Sport Psychologist Problem(s):

2. Coach/Exercise Leader Problem(s):

3. Athlete Problems(s):

When to begin…◦ Ideally, off-season or preseason

More time to learn and automate new skills

Less pressure to win How long…◦ First exposure for 3 to 6

months◦ Then, lifetime commitment

1.Needs assessment Oral interviews Complete MST inventories Performance profiling Beware the “canned” MST program!

2.Identify critical mental skills and mental training tools for each individual athlete

3.Provide vision and long-term goals

4. Develop systematic practice routine and schedule

5. Develop and implement the MST program based on previous steps

6. Systematically evaluate and revise MST program Develop a strategy to monitor

progress (e.g., logs, etc.)7. Reward goal attainment regularly

1. Lack of conviction Sell, sell, sell!

2. Lack of time Coaches must commit time

3. Lack of consultant’s sport knowledge Learn, learn, learn!

4. Lack of follow-up Plan for and schedule 2-3 follow-up

meetings prior to implementing MST programs