The Sports Mastermind is the premier sports psychology podcast. We break down and lay out step-by-step instructions teaching you how to implement the fundamentals of sports psychology. Each segment focuses on breaking down a specific element in 10 minutes
The Sports Mastermind podcast is truly amazing and has the potential to greatly benefit young athletes. As someone who works with young athletes, I can see how this podcast provides valuable insights and guidance for athletes at any stage of their career. The hosts, Laura and Micah, have done a fantastic job of putting together an easy-to-follow and impactful podcast that covers various aspects of goal setting and achievement.
One of the best aspects of this podcast is its ability to provide unique and refreshing perspectives on goal setting and achievement. Even as someone who is not an athlete, I found myself taking away several key points that I had not heard before in my quest to simplify productive systems. The podcast explores both the mental and physical aspects of sport, allowing listeners to gain a holistic understanding of what it takes to excel in their chosen field. This comprehensive approach sets it apart from other sports podcasts.
While it's challenging to find any negative aspects about this podcast, one possible criticism could be that some episodes may delve too deep into technical or specific aspects of sports performance. However, this would only apply to certain listeners who may not have a background in sports or are looking for more general advice. Nonetheless, the majority of the content provided is accessible and valuable for athletes at any level.
In conclusion, The Sports Mastermind podcast is a game-changer for young athletes. Laura and Micah have created an invaluable resource that connects the mental and physical aspects of sport in a way that is easy to understand and implement. Whether you're just starting out or are already achieving great things in your athletic career, this podcast will undoubtedly inspire you to reach new heights. Thank you, Laura and Micah, for sharing your expertise and helping athletes thrive!
Have you ever had so much time to think that thinking actually became the problem?A volleyball player preparing to serve has time to breathe, think, and prepare. Seconds later, that same athlete may be reacting to an attacked ball with almost no time to consciously think at all. Same athlete. Same sport. Completely different demands on attention.In this episode of The Sports Mastermind, Laura Ratto explores the difference between open and closed skills and why understanding the mental demands of a skill can change the way athletes train and perform.Closed skills occur in relatively stable, predictable environments and can create opportunities for overthinking and conscious control. Open skills require athletes to read a changing environment, make decisions, and react. Most sports require both, which means athletes shouldn't necessarily approach every skill with the same mental strategy.In this episode, you'll learn: The difference between open and closed skills Why open and closed skills are better understood on a continuum How overthinking can interfere with automatic execution Why routines, imagery, and cue words can help with closed skills How attentional flexibility supports performance in open skills Why variable practice can help athletes learn to read, decide, and react How coaches can train the mental demands of a skill—not just the physical movement The Focus Four:Know what the skill requires.For closed skills, simplify and trust.For open skills, read and react.Train the way you have to perform.The goal isn't to think about nothing. It's to understand what the skill requires from you right now and train your attention to meet those demands.Learn more about Laura Ratto, mental performance consultation, team workshops, and Ratto Consulting at RattoConsulting.com.
What do you believe you're capable of doing? And what happens when the people around you believe, or don't believe, you can do it?In this episode of The Sports Mastermind, Laura Ratto wraps up the three-part Confidence Series by exploring the difference between confidence and self-efficacy and how our belief in our ability to perform a specific task can influence what happens when it matters.But belief doesn't develop in isolation. Coaches can influence athlete self-efficacy through the opportunities, feedback, instruction, and expectations they provide. Laura examines how coaching expectations can create a cycle in which what a coach believes about an athlete subtly changes how they coach them—and may ultimately influence how that athlete develops and performs.In this episode, you'll learn: The difference between confidence and self-efficacy Bandura's four sources of self-efficacy How coaching expectations can influence athlete development and performance Why two athletes making the same mistake may receive very different coaching experiences How to recognize when an evaluation has turned into a label Four practical ways athletes and coaches can intentionally build belief The Focus Four: Build belief through evidence Make belief specific Question your expectations Turn belief into action And after a three-year break, The Sports Mastermind is officially back! New episodes will once again explore how sport and performance psychology can be applied in practical ways by athletes, coaches, and performers.Learn more about Laura Ratto, mental performance consultation, team workshops, and Ratto Consulting at RattoConsulting.com
The Focus four for How to build Confidence after a bad practice or competition are:Hit the RESET ButtonBe BETTER THAN YESTERDAYSET REALISTIC GOALSFOCUS ON WHAT YOU CAN CONTROL
This episode starts the 1st of three in the confidence series. This first episode is tailored more for coaches and specifically discusses how to build confidence in your athletes. The second episode will shift back to the athletes perspective. Specifically, how to build confidence after a bad practice or competition. The third episode will go into more detail about self-efficacy, what it is and how it relates to sports and sports confidence.The Focus four for Coaches and how to build confidence in your athletes are:Use psychological skills training skills, such as goal setting, Mental Imagery or Visualization, Positive Self-Talk and focusing on the right thing at the right timeCreate situations within the training environment to provide athletes opportunities for successTake into account individual differences between athletes and help athlete's identify individual strengthsTrack an athlete's progress across time for a visual representation of overall increase in skill level and performance
Hello and welcome back to the sports mastermind. Last week we used PETTLEP to break down serving a ball in beach volleyball. In this final episode of the series, we will be going over the sequence of events leading up to shooting a free throw in basketball. For those of you that are new to the series, see episode 46 for more details on PETTLEP imagery.
Hello and welcome back to the sports mastermind. This is the FIFTIETH episode today, so I am going to be doing the beach volleyball bonus episode of PETTLEP. Last week we used PETTLEP to break down taking a shot on goal in soccer. This episode we will be going over the sequence of events leading up to serving the ball in beach volleyball. For those of you that are new to the series, see episode 46 for more details on PETTLEP imagery.
Hello and welcome back to the sports mastermind. Last week we used PETTLEP to break down hitting a pitch in baseball. This episode we will be going over the sequence of events leading up to shooting a penalty kick in soccer. For those of you that are new to the series, see episode 46 for more details on PETTLEP imagery.
Hello and welcome back to the sports mastermind. Last week we used PETTLEP to break down passing a serve in indoor volleyball. This episode we will be going over the sequence of events leading up to hitting a pitch in baseball. For those of you that are new to the series, see episode 46 for more details on PETTLEP imagery.
Over the course of the next several weeks, I will be taking one skill and running you through PETTLEP imagery. The series will be as follows: 1. Indoor Volleyball - Passing a serve 2. Baseball - Hitting a pitch 3. Soccer - Taking a shot on Goal 4. Basketball - Shooting a free throw and a Bonus episode: Beach Volleyball - Passing a Serve
In episode 9 we talked about mental imagery in broad terms. Today we are going to break down one specific type - PETTLEP. In this series, we will break down what it is and how to use it.
How to self-motivate (increasing internal motivation)
How do you stay motivated in difficult situations - Words Matter
Decision-Making when you are learning a new skill
What is your purpose? Finding your ikigai - Maccabi Series Closing Thoughts
Strategies for Working with Mixed skill levels from the coach perspective - Maccabi Series
Making the most of a new experience
What is your compliment sandwich made of? - Effective coach communication.
Communicating with your coach when you think they're wrong
Communicating with teammates during critical moments
Communication with a teammate in partner sports
How to reward yourself for reaching goals
Welcome to our first in a series of 3 podcasts on goal setting. In this week's topic, we will be discussing what a realistic goal is, why it is important to set realistic goals and how you know if your goal is realistic.
No more eligibility - now what? Transitioning past your Senior Sport Season
In this episode Laura looks closely at strategies for managing emotions.
Imagine playing with people that are not supportive. Would you have fun? And then, if you knew the people you were playing or training with were not going to be supportive and you were to adjust your expectations, would it help? Would it matter if you were winning or losing? How do you find the balance between good competition and a positive experience.
In this third episode in the Injury Miniseries Laura will lay out ways to support injured athletes
In this episode Laura gives you a plan for returning to training after an injury
First in a three part series on mental strategies for dealing with injuries.
In this episode Laura discusses mindfulness and a few keys to help you integrate it into your daily practice.
In this episode Laura discusses best practices for dealing with uncertainty in sports and life.
A discussion of coaching styles, which is right and which is most effective.
Whether you are new to sport and athletics or a seasoned pro learning from your peers and those who have gone before you can be an invaluable asset.
In this episode Laura details what you can expect when meeting with a mental coach in a team setting.
What is a one on one mental coaching session like? Laura breaks down the process for what to expect when meeting with a mental training professional
Are you still enjoying your sport? How do you keep your head up and focused on getting better every single day.Welcome to The Sports Mastermind, where we work to bring Sports Psychology to every athlete in simple and straightforward language in less than ten minutes.
In this episode Laura delves into team dynamics and helps you better understand how they work and how you can master them.
Relaxation, what is it? Why is it important? When and how do you do it? In this episode Laura breaks down relaxation and provides the steps to integrate it into your training.
You may have heard the term psychological skills training or P S T, but what is PST really? In this episode Laura goes into detail and outlines what PST is and gives you the tools to begin to add it into your training.
What is communication? How do you communicate? Communication is defined as passing on information from one place person or group to another. We communicate all the time and in many different ways. We talk to our coaches and to our teammates at practice. In this episode Laura breaks down the types of communication and how you can master them.
Laura details how to give 100% even when you feel less than your best.
Laura provides the best advice on getting yourself ready for tryouts
Utilizing the ability of the mind to practice specific skills, away from the practice field, is a key component of every top performer. In this weeks episode Laura will show you how to add Mental Imagery into your daily training routine for success in whatever sport you play.
Third in the Olympic Series looking at the best ways to handle pressure situations in sport.
What exactly is a preperformance routine and how do you develop one to get you in the right mindset to perform at your best? In this second episode of our Olympic Series Laura details the steps to develop your own, personal, preperformace routine.
Olympic Series: 1 - Competition - How to increase situation specific competition and what to do when you or your athletes are struggling with competitiveness
What is Confidence in sport and how do you master it? Join Laura as she lays out the four key steps to integrate Confidence into your daily practice and move yourself to the next level in sport.
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