Visualization exercises in golf and tennis after an error

Published on February 9, 2025 in Allenatori, Calcio, Corsa, Generale, Giovani, Mental coaching, Olimpiadi, Stress, Tennis and Tiro a volo. 0 Comments Tags: .

Visualization exercises in golf and tennis after an error are essential for maintaining focus, regaining confidence, and improving performance on the next shot. These exercises need to be specific rather than generic visualizations. While the approach is similar in both sports, there are key differences that a sports psychologist must understand in order to guide the player effectively.

Here are some typical exercises:

1. Positive Review of the Missed Shot

Common part: Close your eyes and mentally replay the missed shot, but this time, correct it. This helps replace the error with a positive image.

  • Golf: Imagine the correct trajectory of the ball and the feeling of a well-executed shot.
  • Tennis: Visualize your body positioning, the racquet movement, and the ball landing exactly where you intended.

2. Breathing and Mental Reset

Common part: Take a deep breath and imagine exhaling away the mistake and any tension.

  • Golf: Visualize a mental reset, as if pressing a button to erase the missed shot.
  • Tennis: With each breath, visualize your body relaxing and your mind becoming clear.
  • Tennis: Use this exercise between points to stay focused.

3. Reliving a Perfect Shot

Common part: Focus on the sensation of ball contact, the fluidity of movement, and the ideal trajectory. This strengthens confidence in your game.

  • Golf: Recall a perfectly executed shot from the past.
  • Tennis: Think of a similar action you have successfully performed before.

4. Pre-visualization of the Next Shot

  • Golf: Create a stronger mind-body connection. Before taking the next shot, vividly imagine how you want it to unfold:
    • The correct posture and alignment.
    • The smooth motion of the backswing and swing.
    • The ball following the desired trajectory and landing in the ideal position.
  • Tennis: Picture how you want to play the next point, visualizing:
    • A solid stance on the court.
    • Perfect timing on the ball.
    • The intended trajectory and placement of your shot.

5. Positive Emotional Anchor

  • Associate a gesture (such as clenching your fist, touching the visor of your cap, or gripping the racquet) with a positive emotion.
  • Use this gesture after an error to bring your mind back to a state of confidence and control.

These exercises help players recover quickly from mistakes, maintain emotional control, and play more effectively and consistently.

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Imagery training in track and field

Published on February 6, 2025 in Allenatori, Calcio, Corsa, Generale, Giovani, Mental coaching, Olimpiadi, Stress, Tennis and Tiro a volo. 0 Comments Tags: , .

 

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What is the value of sport psychology without internship in sport organizations?

Published on February 4, 2025 in Allenatori, Calcio, Corsa, Generale, Giovani, Mental coaching, Olimpiadi, Stress, Tennis and Tiro a volo. 0 Comments Tags: .

The issue of professional training in sports psychology presents numerous limitations for several reasons, the main one being the lack of internships within sports organizations.

Consequently, in my opinion, master’s programs in sports psychology that are purely theoretical and do not include internship opportunities cannot be considered true training courses for several reasons:

  • Lack of Practical Experience – Sports psychology is an applied discipline that requires practical skills in interacting with athletes, teams, and real sports contexts. Without an internship, students have no opportunity to develop fundamental operational skills.
  • No Access to the Job Market – A master’s program should provide not only knowledge but also concrete tools for professional integration. Without field experience, participants risk not acquiring the skills required by potential employers.
  • Difficulty in Translating Theory into Practice – Studying psychological theories and models without the chance to apply them in real situations limits understanding and learning effectiveness. Direct interaction with athletes and technical staff is essential for internalizing intervention methodologies.
  • Limited Professional Recognition – In other countries, many professional boards and associations require supervised practice hours to recognize competencies in sports psychology. A purely theoretical master’s program does not meet these requirements.
  • Reduced Job Opportunities – Sports organizations, teams, and federations prefer to work with professionals who have already gained direct experience in the field. A degree without practical experience hardly provides a competitive advantage in the job market.

In conclusion, a master’s degree in sports psychology without an internship cannot be considered a true professional training path because it does not provide the necessary practical skills nor facilitates entry into the job market.

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Supervision role in sport psychology

Published on February 3, 2025 in Allenatori, Calcio, Corsa, Generale, Giovani, Mental coaching, Olimpiadi, Stress, Tennis and Tiro a volo. 0 Comments Tags: .

Supervision in sport psychology is a fundamental element for professional development and continuous learning, especially when working with athletes and teams from diverse cultural backgrounds. It is not just a moment of discussion or self-evaluation but an opportunity for growth that allows professionals to refine their skills, enhance the quality of their interventions, and develop a greater awareness of cultural dynamics.

When working in a sports context, psychologists interact with athletes who bring their own values, beliefs, and interpretations of sports and competition, deeply influenced by their cultural backgrounds. A standardized approach that lacks intercultural sensitivity risks being ineffective or, in the worst cases, creating misunderstandings and barriers in the relationship with the athlete. This is where supervision becomes a powerful tool for reflection and learning. Through discussions with experienced colleagues or a supervisor, sport psychologists can develop more effective strategies to tailor their interventions and improve their communication and support skills.

One of the most important aspects of supervision is that it allows professionals to gain new perspectives. Often, when working with a specific team or athlete, one tends to develop a limited view based on personal experiences and cultural background. Engaging with a supervisor or a group of colleagues helps to challenge preconceived notions and consider alternative approaches that might otherwise go unnoticed. This is particularly useful in multicultural settings, where an approach that works well with one athlete may be ineffective for another due to cultural differences.

Furthermore, supervision provides a safe space to address emotional and professional challenges that may arise in daily work. Supporting athletes with high expectations and significant pressures can be demanding, even for professionals, who may experience moments of uncertainty or stress. Having a supervisor to discuss these difficulties with helps not only to find practical solutions but also to maintain emotional balance, which is essential for providing effective support.

Finally, supervision helps ensure a high standard of professional practice, preventing sport psychologists from relying solely on personal intuition or outdated methods. Sport psychology is an evolving field, and ongoing engagement with experts facilitates the integration of new knowledge and evidence-based techniques, ultimately improving the quality of service provided to athletes.

Embracing this approach, the International Society of Sport Psychology offers a high-level program for becoming recognized supervisors, enabling professionals to provide effective and competent guidance to young psychologists seeking expertise in this field. Explore supervision in sport psychology with Prof. Poczwardowski. Learn key practices for becoming an ISSP-registered supervisor, including fostering supportive environments, addressing ethics, and ensuring culturally safe supervision.

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“After Us” Project in sports for young people with intellectual disabilities: From game to job-training

Published on February 1, 2025 in Allenatori, Calcio, Corsa, Generale, Giovani, Mental coaching, Olimpiadi, Stress, Tennis and Tiro a volo. 0 Comments Tags: , .

Work is a fundamental part of adult life: it not only ensures financial independence but also allows individuals to choose how to spend their time, participate in society, and feel part of a community. This applies to everyone, but for people with disabilities, it carries an even deeper meaning. Having a job means being recognized for one’s abilities, building stronger relationships with family and friends, engaging in recreational activities, and relying on support, both from services and from family and social networks.

Unfortunately, data shows how difficult it is for people with disabilities to access decent employment. In the case of individuals with Down syndrome, only 31.4% of those over 24 are employed. Even among those who do work, the majority do not have a standard contract: over 60% are employed in social cooperatives without real job protections. Even more concerning is the fact that in 70% of cases, they receive no compensation at all or are paid a symbolic wage, far below the actual value of their work. The situation is even more critical for autistic individuals: among those over 20, only 10% are employed.

This job insecurity affects not only people with disabilities but also their families. As highlighted by Censis years ago, many families feel increasingly alone in planning their children’s future. While 30-40% of parents of children and teenagers with Down syndrome up to the age of 15 envision an independent or semi-independent life for them, this percentage drops drastically to 12% once their children reach adulthood. A similar trend is seen among families with autistic children: 23% hope for a future of autonomy for them, but this confidence plummets to just 5% after the age of 21.

To try to change this reality, an innovative project has been launched in Italy: for the first time, a sports club, the Accademia di Calcio Integrato, has created a professional training program for six young people with intellectual disabilities. The project, funded by the 8×1000 contribution from the Waldensian Church, enabled participants to take an online course offered by the Italian Paralympic Federation for Intellectual and Relational Disabilities, earning a qualification as assistant instructors. With the support of two tutors—a sports psychologist and an instructor with a degree in sports science—these young adults completed a 16-hour training course and are now beginning a five-month paid internship.

This inclusion model could open new opportunities. Until now, job placement projects for people with intellectual disabilities have focused mainly on the restaurant and hospitality sectors. However, for many of them, sports already serve as a space for socialization and personal growth—a place where they have built relationships with peers and family members. So why not turn this passion into a professional opportunity? With the right training, these young individuals could become assistant coaches in soccer, basketball, and other sports, actively contributing to the life of sports organizations.

Italy has thousands of sports clubs, some small, others highly structured, that could seize this opportunity provided by Fisdir to offer a professional future to many young people with intellectual disabilities who are passionate about sports. The Accademia di Calcio Integrato project proves that it is possible—now, other organizations need to follow this example, transforming passion into a real career path.

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How well are adolescents prepared to compete?

Published on January 28, 2025 in Allenatori, Calcio, Corsa, Generale, Giovani, Olimpiadi, Stress, Tennis and Tiro a volo. 0 Comments Tags: .

Often, our adolescent athletes struggle to excel at the international level. This is especially evident in individual sports with a predominantly tactical emphasis (such as tennis and table tennis) and in precision sports (like shooting, archery, and golf). From my perspective, this limitation is at least partly due to insufficient attention being given to how competitions should be approached and experienced. Our best young athletes typically do not show technical deficiencies that prevent them from being competitive, but in my view, they lack the skills to manage a competition effectively, adapt to their opponents, and prepare themselves to enter a competition in a state of optimal readiness.

Technique and tactics are fundamental—they represent the grammar of sports and must be mastered to the highest level. That said, competition is a public confrontation with other athletes of similar ability, where one must assert their technical and tactical superiority and adapt to their opponent’s strategy. It is not an aesthetic performance but a demonstration of pre-tactical supremacy. Competitive sports demand the ability to dominate opponents in opposition-based sports or to achieve mastery over oneself and one’s actions in precision sports.

The question I ask is this: how is this capability trained across these different sports? Are athletes aware that the limitations they exhibit during competition stem from how they interpret what they perceive and the subsequent decision-making process—which should ideally result in the best possible course of action?

Once these two questions have been addressed, the next one is: how can these qualities be trained?

The answers are up to you.

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Sports to grow up as a person

Published on January 26, 2025 in Allenatori, Calcio, Corsa, Generale, Giovani, Mental coaching, Olimpiadi, Stress, Tennis and Tiro a volo. 0 Comments Tags: .

Sport is not just about competition or results: it’s a living part of the community, a tool to unite, inspire, and shape better people. Sports organizations have the power and the responsibility to go beyond technical training or winning on the field; they are guardians of fundamental cultural values that can change lives.

Sport teaches respect because it forces us to recognize others, whether as teammates or opponents, and to value every effort as worthy of acknowledgment. It fosters inclusion, breaking down social, cultural, and physical barriers, welcoming anyone who wants to participate. Sport reveals that we share more in our passions and ambitions than we differ.

Sport also conveys discipline and resilience. Through hard work and effort, it builds character and prepares individuals to overcome challenges not only on the field but in everyday life. It educates in collaboration: no victory is entirely individual; every success is the result of a team that shares common goals and values.

For a sports organization, promoting these principles means leaving a legacy that goes far beyond the boundaries of the field. It’s about making sport a school of life, a point of reference for young people and the community, a space where individuals grow both personally and as citizens. Helping someone believe in themselves, discover their potential, and feel part of something greater: that’s true success.

By promoting sport as a cultural value, organizations become places where a better future is built for everyone—a future grounded in respect, fairness, and shared passion.

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Data about sport and autism

Published on January 24, 2025 in Allenatori, Calcio, Corsa, Generale, Giovani, Mental coaching, Olimpiadi, Stress, Tennis and Tiro a volo. 0 Comments Tags: .

Grosprêtre, S., Ruffino, C., Derguy, C., & Gueugneau, N. (2024). Sport and Autism: What Do We Know so Far? A Review. Sports Medicine-Open, 10(1), 107.

Autism is often associated with anxiety, a condition that can stem from feelings of social isolation. This situation can, in turn, increase the risk of depression in some cases. However, sports and physical activity provide significant support in addressing these challenges, as their positive effects in reducing symptoms of depression are well-documented.

To achieve tangible benefits from physical activity, it is important to follow a program for an adequate period. Improvements usually become noticeable after 16 weeks of consistent exercise, while shorter programs, such as those lasting 8 weeks, tend to have a limited impact.

Psychological and Physical Benefits of Sports

Sports not only enhance physical well-being but also positively affect several psychological aspects. For instance, short-term training programs can boost self-esteem. Similarly, self-efficacy—the confidence in one’s own abilities—can improve through activities that allow individuals to regulate the intensity of their exercises autonomously.

Parents of autistic children often report improvements in their children’s mood, quality of life, and autism-related behaviors after participating in sports programs. Physically, autistic individuals show significant progress in strength and overall fitness, with noticeable improvements in cardiovascular endurance and upper and lower limb strength. Balance training can also help mitigate motor challenges related to stability, enhancing the ability to control body movements.

Cognitive Improvements and Physical Adaptations

Even simple and less structured exercises can offer cognitive benefits. For example, circuit exercise programs have demonstrated improvements in reaction times and cognitive flexibility, areas that can be particularly challenging for autistic individuals. Physically, benefits such as a reduction in fat mass have been observed through combined aerobic-neuromuscular or coordination-strength training programs.

Sports like basketball, football, and handball are particularly effective at developing perceptual-motor skills due to the level of uncertainty and adaptability required during gameplay. These “open-skill” sports promote quick responses and flexibility in movement, improving motor and cognitive skills.

Socialization and Interaction Through Physical Activity

Sports can also have a positive impact on socialization, an area often critical for autistic individuals. Participating in sports provides opportunities for interaction with other participants and instructors, increasing social stimulation. This can lead to improvements in communication and social functioning. Moreover, sports are experienced as enjoyable activities that offer a sense of accomplishment and enhance self-confidence, especially in group settings.

From a physiological perspective, physical exercise can stimulate the production of oxytocin, a hormone associated with social cognition and relational behaviors. However, the intensity of the activity should be carefully considered: too light an exercise may not yield significant benefits, while overly intense activity can cause discomfort and discourage participation.

Conclusion

According to research, physical activity can be an effective and accessible tool for managing autism. It offers social, psychological, and physical advantages and, with the right approach, can become a key element in improving the quality of life for autistic individuals and their families.

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Mindfulness and sport

Published on January 21, 2025 in Allenatori, Calcio, Corsa, Generale, Giovani, Mental coaching, Olimpiadi, Stress, Tennis and Tiro a volo. 0 Comments Tags: .

It is true that, although mindfulness is gaining popularity in sports, only a minority of athletes practice it regularly or in a structured way. However, the number is growing due to increasing awareness of its benefits for athletic performance and mental well-being.

Mindfulness, the practice of focusing attention on the present moment in a nonjudgmental way, has been associated with significant improvements in areas such as stress management, concentration, recovery, and mental resilience. High-level athletes like Novak Djokovic, Michael Jordan, and some Olympians have openly discussed it, contributing to its spread.

However, many athletes have not yet incorporated these practices into their training, often because:

  1. They are not aware of its benefits.
  2. They lack adequate resources to learn the technique.
  3. They prefer to focus on more traditional approaches to improving performance, such as physical or technical training.

With the growing interest in mental health in sports, it is likely that the use of mindfulness among athletes will continue to increase.

Mindfulness is used across a wide range of sports, as its benefits apply to situations requiring concentration, stress management, and mental resilience. Here are some examples of sports where it is adopted:

1. Individual Sports

  • Tennis: To improve focus, emotional control, and handling pressure in crucial moments. Novak Djokovic is a well-known practitioner.
  • Golf: Mindfulness helps golfers manage anxiety and stay focused between shots, given the long pauses in the game.
  • Martial Arts and Combat Sports: It helps practitioners of disciplines such as judo, karate, boxing, or MMA improve body awareness and emotional management during high-stress situations.
  • Running and Track & Field: In sports like marathons or sprinting, it is used to stay focused and overcome moments of mental fatigue.
  • Skiing and Snowboarding: Paying attention to the present moment helps athletes navigate ever-changing environments, such as slopes or unpredictable weather.

2. Team Sports

  • Soccer: Some professional teams use mindfulness to increase focus on the field and improve group cohesion.
  • Basketball: Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls of the ’90s are an iconic example, thanks to Phil Jackson, a strong advocate of mindfulness.
  • Rugby: Used to stay concentrated during critical moments in matches, such as penalty kicks or high-pressure situations.
  • Volleyball: To stay focused during decisive moments, such as tie-breaks.

3. Extreme Sports

  • Mountaineering and Climbing: Mindfulness helps maintain calm in dangerous situations and improves emotional control.
  • Surfing: To enter a “flow” state that combines awareness and optimal physical performance, essential for riding waves.

4. Motorsports

  • Formula 1 and MotoGP: Mindfulness is useful for managing focus during high-speed races, where concentration is crucial for making quick and precise decisions.

5. Precision Sports

  • Archery, Shooting, and Skeet Shooting: Mindfulness helps regulate breathing and mental calm, essential for executing precise movements.
  • Billiards and Bowling: Where movement control and handling nervousness are critical.

6. Water Sports

  • Swimming: Used to remain focused during races and overcome moments of mental fatigue.
  • Rowing: Helps synchronize mind and body in sports requiring constant and intense rhythms.

Mindfulness is not tied to a single type of sport but adapts to contexts where mental clarity, concentration, and emotional regulation are required, making it valuable for both professional and amateur athletes.

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The reasons for the athletes, reflecting every day on what they have learned

Published on January 20, 2025 in Allenatori, Calcio, Corsa, Generale, Giovani, Mental coaching, Olimpiadi, Stress, Tennis and Tiro a volo. 0 Comments

For an athlete, reflecting every day on what they have learned, what they enjoyed, and what they expect for the next day is an invaluable, almost essential practice for their personal and professional growth. This process fosters a continuous cycle of awareness and improvement, both mentally and physically.

First, reflecting on what they have learned helps an athlete consolidate the lessons of the day. Whether it’s mastering a new technique, identifying a mistake to avoid, or gaining a deeper understanding of their body, this moment of introspection turns experiences into knowledge. Even a simple realization like “today I understood the importance of warming up” becomes a building block for more mindful performance.

Thinking about what they enjoyed is equally important. This aspect cultivates gratitude and enjoyment, reinforcing motivation. Recalling a positive moment—whether it’s executing an exercise flawlessly, receiving support from a teammate, or feeling great after a workout—fuels a sense of accomplishment. The positivity that emerges becomes emotional energy to tackle new challenges with enthusiasm.

Finally, envisioning the next day isn’t just an organizational exercise; it’s also a strategy to enhance effectiveness and reduce anxiety. Imagining the training sessions and setting objectives in advance creates a state of readiness and focus. This type of visualization fosters a proactive mindset, helping to avoid the tendency to approach the day reactively or aimlessly.

When done consistently, this daily practice turns an athlete’s routine into a virtuous cycle of growth. Each day becomes an opportunity not only to improve physically but also to nurture resilience, self-awareness, and passion for their sport. In short, daily reflection makes the athlete better prepared, more motivated, and more serene in pursuing their goals.

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