The Champion's Mind de Jim Afremow

Date de parution : 05.2015
Format : Broché
Nombre de pages : 288
Résumé : Even among the most elite performers, certain athletes stand out as a cut above the rest, able to outperform in clutch, game-deciding moments. These athletes prove that raw athletic ability doesn't necessarily translate to a superior on-field experience-its the mental game that matters most. Sports participation-from the recreational to the collegiate Division I level-is at an all-time high. While the caliber of their games may differ, athletes at every level have one thing in common: the desire to excel. In The Champion's Mind, sports psychologist Jim Afremow, PhD, offers the same advice he uses with Olympians, Heisman Trophy winners, and professional athletes, including: • How to get in a "zone," thrive on a team, and stay humble • How to progress within a sport and sustain long-term excellence • Customizable pre-performance routines to hit full power when the gun goes off or the puck is dropped With hundreds of useful tips, breakthrough science, and cutting-edge workouts from the world's top trainers, The Champion's Mind will help you shape your body to ensure a longer, healthier, happier lifetime.CHAPTER ONE BE YOUR OWN CHAMPION The attitude with which we approach the situation can determine our success or failure. --PEYTON MANNING What separates the top few from the many in a sport? Mentality. The importance of the mental side of athletics was once brilliantly summed up by basketball legend Kareem Abdul-Jabbar: "Your mind is what makes everything else work." Tennis great Novak Djokovic further explains: "[Among the] top 100 players, physically there is not much difference. . . . It's a mental ability to handle the pressure, to play well at the right moments." So your mental game matters the most. Physical ability alone rarely translates into a superior on-field performance. Even naturally gifted athletes who want to perform to their total potential need outstanding physical and mental strengths, because their secret to great performances is not their innate athleticism or technical skills--it's their minds. Top athletes are often distinguished, especially in the media, by their unique natural gifts. For example, Michael Phelps, the greatest Olympic swimmer, has the wingspan of an albatross, tennis star Roger Federer has the timing of an exquisite Swiss watch, and Olympic sprinter and world- record holder Usain Bolt is built out of lightning-rod-like twitch fibers. Behind the scenes, their mind-set and work ethic have enhanced their natural abilities. If you aspire to be a champion, don't be awed by the glitter of their excellence; instead, know that they also put in many thousands of hours in the pool, on the court, and at the track to build up their bodies and shape their minds. Distance runner Paavo Nurmi, dubbed the "Flying Finn" and the winner of nine Olympic gold medals (including five at the 1924 Paris Olympics), declared, "Mind is everything. Muscle--just pieces of rubber. All that I am, I am because of my mind." You, too, can develop the mental focus and discipline needed to perform in your sport with a champion's mind. The mental abilities of confidence, concentration, and composure are crucial for being a champion in everything you undertake, be it work or sports or both. In contrast to your physical abilities, your mental abilities may flutter moment to moment, because your mind is susceptible to performance pressures and situational demands. This being true, you cannot trust your athletic performance to...