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USOC Sport Psychology Services
WHAT WE DO
Both research and our experience strongly suggest that as athletes move up into the elite ranks, mental training skills become as important as the physical side of the sport. Despite recognizing this is so, most athletes spend much less time, if any, on honing their mental skills than on their physical training. Why? Most athletes and coaches will respond with one or more of the following reasons:
1. Physical training takes enough time already; I can’t add more to my training day.
2. It’s easy to see when I’m improving with a physical skill, but harder to measure when I’m improving on my mental skills.
3. I don’t know how to practice my mental skills.
USOC Sport Psychology staff strives to overcome these challenges and help athletes and coaches learn about, effectively practice, and master the relevant mental skills for their sport. While mental skill knowledge will not help an athlete overcome a lack of physical skill, it can make the difference between success and failure for many athletes. Athletes who have practiced their mental skills are better able to:
• perform more consistently across competitions
• recover their composure more quickly after a mistake or distraction
• perform at their best when the pressure is on
Athletes can easily learn the basic mental skills such as imagery, goal setting, energy management, effective self-talk, concentration, mental preparation, self-confidence, and how better to handle the pressure of competition. Our staff has trained many elite athletes through both group and individual consultations on mental skill development. We have also put together a mental training manual for those athletes and coaches who are unable to come to an Olympic Training Center personally. See below for ordering information.
In addition to the basic mental skills, athletes and coaches can benefit from learning more about how to overcome adversity, or refocus in the event of a mistake or distraction. These coping skills, too, can be learned through a program of simulating competitive pressure in training situations. USOC Sport Psychology staff can assist athletes and coaches in this area with ideas about how to do this.
Finally, our staff consists of trained psychologists who are able to assist coaches and athletes deal with whatever other life circumstances may be impacting their abilities to perform at their best. We often counsel athletes and coaches in the areas of relationship issues, communication skills, career issues, family problems, and mood or eating disorders. Fully half of our work with athletes and coaches comes from this area. It is important to recognize that having life issues that may interfere with one’s ability to perform as a top-level athlete is not “crazy” but a completely understandable reaction to the sometimes stressful life of an elite athlete or coach.
WHO WE ARE
The USOC has full-time sport psychology staff at its Colorado Springs, CO and Chula Vista, CA Olympic Training Center sites.
Colorado Springs staff:
Peter Haberl 719-866-4956
Sean McCann 719-866-4759
Kirsten Peterson 719-866-4722
Chula Vista staff:
Jim Bauman 619-482-6145
HOW WE WORK
Individual/Group Consultations
Resident and camp athletes and coaches are welcome to stop in for individual or group consultations with our staff when on Complex. We are available for drop-in appointments but calling ahead to schedule a time with us is encouraged, particularly if a group presentation is desired. Our services are free of charge to resident, camp, and national-level athletes and coaches.
An incomplete list of topics for group presentations includes:
• Pre-Event Planning
• Competition Planning
• Enhancing Motivation
• Enhancing Concentration
• Improving Self-Talk
• Goal Setting
• Increasing Ability to Handle Pressure
• Handling Distractions
• Relationship Issues
• Family Issues
• Stress Management
• Sleep Problems
• Eating/Body Image Issues
• Career Planning
Referrals for Off-Complex Sport Psychology Service
For those athletes and coaches who are unable to come to Complex, we maintain a registry of sport psychology consultants from around the US and Canada from which to make an appropriate referral for service. These sport psychology consultants have had to meet standards for educational training and supervised practice in order to achieve Registry membership. While such services may not be free, Registry members will very often waive or reduce their service fees for athletes. For more information about the Registry or to obtain a referral, please contact Kirsten Peterson at 719-866-4722.
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