SPORT PSYCHOLOGY RESOURCES
improve mental game.
You might be one of the many athletes who have been injured playing a sport that you love - a sport that was a huge part of your life. You may have injured yourself as a weekend warrior, while playing recreational sports with friends. Or maybe it happened after a fall, misstep or collision unrelated to sports. Regardless of the circumstances, there is commonly a psychological impact associated by the injury (one that is often overlooked), and varies depending on the individual and their circumstances. This has been shown through research, and is a normal part of the experience.
To help you through the recovery, we will be posting sport psychology resources, and featuring exceptional sport psychology experts from across the globe to share their insights, tips, and tools for recovery.
We hope you take full advantage of these valuable resources. If you have any feedback or comments, please feel free to let us know here.
WHY ATHLETES OFTEN FALL INTO DEPRESSION AFTER INJURY
CONTRIBUTOR: DR. ROB BELL, SPORT PSYCHOLOGY CONSULTANT
Injuries are one of the toughest things an athlete will handle. There are various factors at play regarding how well they will cope with the injury, severity, time of the season, history of previous injuries, and social support.
An off-season injury that causes a two week lay-off is vastly different than the beginning of the season-ending injury.
Often, athletes simply do not deal well with injuries either. Here is why they could be struggling through depression as well.
MENTAL SKILLS TRAINING is often used by elite athletes and Olympians and can be used as a tool to gain a competitive edge. This training is especially useful in recovering from any sports injury. One useful technique is “visualization”, which is based on science, and proven to improve confidence and performance. This tool can be used not only during the recovery season, but also after you have made a comeback to sports. Did you know you can actually reduce pain and promote healing with the power of the mind?
Below are some powerful visualization exercises specifically for the recovery season, courtesy of Andrew Crome, mental performance consultant at Mind to Muscle and Sports Medicine and Rehabilitation.
Close your eyes and listen to the meditation recordings below. Enjoy!
ANDREW CROME is the mental performance consultant at Mind to Muscle and Sports Medicine and Rehabilitation, with offices located in Barrie and Orillia. His love of sport led him to earn a Bachelor’s degree in Sports Studies and a Master’s degree in Psychology of Sport, where he specialized in rehabilitation from injury and fear of re-injury respectively.
He has since been working with athletes in order to improve their mental strength and help them bridge the gap between good and great. He has also been a member of the Toronto Marathon Psyching Team for the past three years, where they provide runners with mental tips before, during, and after the race.