<p>Introspection is a valued tool in the process of becoming aware of who you are and what you want to accomplish in your life. We yearn for coping skills when things get tough. However, coping skills, such as a centering breath, do not address the root cause of the problem; they only help manage the symptoms of the problem. One way to uncover the root cause of the problem is greater self-awareness. </p> <h3>The Self-Awareness Model</h3> <p>Below is a pyramid illustration of the elements of self-awareness for you (the athlete) or you (the perso ..read more

<p>The pressure to achieve the "perfect" body is palpable, affecting individuals from all walks of life. While this issue often gets significant attention among women, it is essential to recognize that men also face body image challenges, especially in contexts where physical size, shape, and appearance play a crucial role, such as athletics. In this blog post, we will explore the key findings and implications of research, emphasizing how self-compassion is showing promise as an approach to promoting healthy body image and overall well-being.</p> <h3>Body Image and Disordered ..read more

<p>The landscape of youth sports has changed significantly in the last 20 years with the emergence of club sports and more athletes focused on developing elite-level skills rather than sport enjoyment. This increased focus on performance has many athletes and parents choosing to forego multi-sport participation to focus on a single, main sport as early as elementary school. </p> <p>Sport Sociologist, Jay Coakley (2009), identified elite sport specialization as one of five impactful trends in contemporary youth sports. Specialization within youth sports promotes single sp ..read more

<p>Are you the real deal or an imposter? If you have ever wondered whether you were not good enough or a fraud in your field, you are not alone. Research suggests that upwards of 80% of people have experienced imposter syndrome at some point in their life (Bravata et al., 2020). Imposter syndrome, a term first coined in the late 1970s, refers to a pattern of behavior that leads individuals to doubt their abilities, often experiencing constant fear of being exposed as a fraud (Huecker, 2023). Relatedly, self-sabotage, in this context, means to intentionally create hindrances to one’s goal ..read more

<p>Engaging in harsh self-criticism following a performance is a common reality for many athletes (Frentz et al., 2020). An important distinction to note is that while negative self-talk simply describes the general negative inner voice, self-criticism describes the negative self-evaluation after failing to meet a specific standard or expectation (Naragon-Gainey & Watson, 2012). This criticism may include focusing solely on mistakes, questioning one’s self-worth, and generalizing the lack of success to other life events. Unfortunately, it is also common for athletes to believe that h ..read more

<p>When athletes experience a sport-related injury, there is usually a predictable process they will experience during rehabilitation. First, the injury will be assessed by a medical professional to determine the level of care needed. Then, the athlete will undergo surgery and/or physical therapy. Once this stage of recovery is complete, the athlete is then considered healthy enough to return to their sport. While this is widely considered the standard process to ‘properly’ heal an injury, there is a critical component that frequently goes untreated: the psychological symptoms experience ..read more

<p><strong>Dedication. Ambition. Tenacity. Enthusiasm. </strong>These are some of the key qualities that high-level athletes possess, and they all have one thing in common: the driving force behind them is passion. While we assume high-level athletes are passionate about their sport, we do not often question how their passion developed. However, identifying specific factors that influence the development of passion can help us better understand athletes and the impact of passion on their performance. Parents and coaches both play an influential role in developing and mai ..read more

<p>To celebrate Mental Health Awareness Month this May, AASP invites you to join our 31-Day Mental Health Challenge: a series of daily tasks to bring mental health to the forefront of your mind and allow you to take a moment for restorative self-care.</p> <p>Throughout the month of May, AASP will challenge you with a new daily activity and encourages you to share your journey with the AASP community using the challenge hashtag: #AASPChallenge2023</p> <p>Be sure to follow AASP on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/AssociationforAppliedSportPsychology/" >Facebo ..read more

<p>When was the last time you opened a social media app on your smartphone? Recent data would predict that you have likely checked at least once in the last three hours. Social media is everywhere! Three out of four adults and four out of five young adults regularly utilize social media. Its presence in our lives, and in the lives of athletes, is nearly ubiquitous and its impact on each of us is undeniable. Being that social media use is so prevalent, it is important to understand its advantages and shortcomings for well-being and mental performance amongst athlete populations.</p> ..read more

<h3>What Is a Mental Block?</h3> <p>A mental block is a disconnect between the mind and body, or the conscious and unconscious mind. Mental blocks occur in various spaces within sport performance. For example, an NFL kicker misses a game-winning opportunity yet successfully practices 10/10 times kicking at the same distance. A youth volleyball player has one error that plummets the rest of their performance. Athletes within all levels of sport, ranging from professionals to youth performers, have endured mental struggles. </p> <h3>What Might Be Causing These ..read more