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Steven W. Noles, Psy.D.
Biographical Sketch
Available Services
Descriptions
of available services
Testimonials
What others are saying about Dr. Noles
Mental
Training Exercises
Sample information
and strategies
Outside
the Arena
Common problems concerning
athletes
Parent's Corner
Advice for
parents of athletes
Coach's
Corner
Positive coaching strategies
FAQs
Answers
to frequently asked questions
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HeadsUp Sports
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FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
What is HeadsUp Sports Consulting?
HeadsUp Sports
Consulting is a sports psychology practice founded and developed by Dr.
Steven W. Noles, a certified sports psychologist and a licensed
clinical psychologist. This practice is devoted to helping
athletes improve their performance in competitive
situations. This website offers a description of the consulting
practice and the types of assessments and consultative arrangements
which are available, a few mental training exercises which athletes can
implement and follow, a description of non-athletic problems which many
athletes face, information for coaches and
parents, and contact information.
What is Sports Psychology
and Mental Training?
Sports Psychology and
mental
training refer to the process of applying basic psychological
(cognitive and behavioral) principles
to athletes involved in competitive sports. By helping an athlete
control
his/her thought processes and emotional state before, during, and after
a competitive event,
mental training increases the likelihood athletes will perform at or
near their potential more frequently and greater periods of time. Think
of it this
way: athletes spend considerable time training and developing various
muscles. Mental
training is the process of training the brain, which after all is the
clearly
the major muscle in our body.
Will Mental Training Help
Me?
At one level, the
answer is absolutely it will help. There is virtually no athlete
in the world whose performance would not be helped by developing
greater cognitive and emotional control. On a different level,
the answer is that it depends on you. Becoming a more proficient
mental athlete is much like becoming proficient in any other
skill. Skill development takes persistence and hard work.
The concept of thinking and feeling better before, during, and after
competition sounds easy but you should not be fooled by the
simplicity. Mental training will help you if you work hard at the
mental training. Keep in mind, however, there is no substitute
for athletic skill and hard work. The mental training
exercises will only be useful to you if your fundamentals are strong,
if
your athletic skills are developing, and if you have a good solid work
ethic.
Does This Mean I Will Never
Lose?
Sorry, but no! Mental
training
is not a "silver bullet". If you mentally prepare for your competition
in a strong way, you will not lose because of some mental error. You
may
unfortunately run into a competitor who is also mentally prepared and a
little better physically prepared.
I'm Not Crazy, So Sports
Psychology Is Not For ME, Right? Wrong! Sports psychology is geared
toward skill and performance enhancement.
These are the skills that everyone could use and benefit from,
including
non-athletes. It is sad but true that sometimes athletes have
psychological
problems, such as depression and anxiety, which interfere with their
performance
and require the help of a trained mental health professional. Some of
these
issues are addressed in Athletes Outside The Arena, but mental training
is different. Mental training helps the healthy athlete, so it sounds
like
it would be perfect for you.
How Do I Get Started?
Contact HeadsUp Sports
Consulting today!
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