After almost a year of rehab and training, he has been officially cleared to play by doctors just a few days ago. However, he says he is not yet ready to take the everyday beat down of an NBA game. More specifically, he said that he will not play until he can confidently dunk off of the leg he previously injured.

With analysts and others questioning why he won’t play after being cleared by doctors, there is only one thing holding him back from playing. That one thing is not physical; it is his mental state, it is his own mind. When an athlete endures a devastating injury such as Rose did, you are not only hurt physically but mentally as well. The only thing in the back of his mind is probably “I don’t want to hurt my knee if I try to do an explosive move or go up for a dunk.” Just as it took time, almost a year, to recover physically from the torn ACL it also takes time to recover mentally from an injury.

Until in his mind he feels that he is ready to play and can visualize doing everything he was able to do before the injury, no one should even consider questioning the all-star. Otherwise, if he rushes back too soon Rose will not play like the MVP everyone knows him to be and may do more harm than good for him and the Chicago Bulls’ playoff run.

Sports Psychology/Mental Training from Mental Apex

Many questions surround the style of Kelly’s coaching philosophy as whether it will transfer to the NFL and be as effective as it has been in the college ranks. I’m sure NFL teams would love to see 50 plus points thrown up on the scoreboard each week as it would equate to wins and fatter pockets.

As teams of interest pursue Kelly to bring in his high profile offense in hopes the transition is seamless and successful, teams should set their focus more so on whether Chip Kelly will be able to lead men instead of boys.

The fact is Kelly’s offense is already a success in the NFL. Bill Belichick and the New England Patriots already implement many facets of Kelly’s vision with their offense. The Patriots have been in the tops of the league when it comes to the major offenses categories past few years.

The success of Kelly in the NFL won’t necessarily fall on whether his high profile offense will fit in the ranks of the NFL, but more so will his style of leadership fit in the NFL. Will Kelly be able to lead a group of men that have been established in the sport of football? Will he be able to handle the personalities of guys making millions of dollars and get them to buy in to what he demands?

If Kelly’s leadership style can transfer from leading young men in college to grown men in the NFL, the answer to the question to whether his offensive style will be able to work in the NFL will without a question be yes.

Sports Psychology/Mental Training from Mental Apex

Harold Calubid, of Long Beach, won the Boys Division, with a 6-under-par 210. The tournament includes 95 boys, ages 12-18 from six states and 10 countries. The Victory was a hard fought one that posed many challenges for Harold to overcome. Calubid held the 36-hole lead with 18 to play. After shooting -1 on the front 9 in the final round, Harold found himself down by one shot with 9 holes to play. The start of the back 9 was shaky to say the least as Harold shoots a bogey, double bogey, bogey start on holes 11, 12 and 13 to find himself 4 shots off the lead.

“I wanted to calm myself down and regather my focus at that point,” Calubid said. “I knew if i could get back to hitting the shot in front of me that I could give myself a chance.” And that he did. Harold followed up the shaky back 9 start with birdies on holes 13, 14, and 15 to pull back into a tie of the lead. From there Harold was able to stay steady down the stretch and runaway with an impressive 5 shot victory over the field.

Calubid said his putting helped him capture the win.“This was my first win and it is definitely special,” Calubid said. ”Just to know that I worked hard for this and I have people supporting me, it feels good.”

“I putted really well this week,” Calubid said. “It has been awhile since I did that, but I was hitting the ball well and clean.”

This victory is sure to put Calubid on the map as Division I universities look for great young talent to represent their program in the future. Things are definitely looking bright for this young star on the rise.

Sports Psychology/Mental Training from Mental Apex

When Haas made his par on the 18th hole during the final round, he had the clubhouse lead at 7 under. There were only two players who could catch him – Mickelson and Bradley. To do so, one of them would have to birdie the difficult 18th hole (which had only yielded six birdies all day). The odds that one of them would birdie were very unlikely; both of them making birdie would have been nearly impossible.

Despite the odds, Haas knew he couldn’t get ahead of himself and assume they wouldn’t make birdie. In fact, as Mickelson and Bradley were teeing off on 18 and Haas had the lead to himself, an interviewer asked him what his mindset was. His response: “My mindset is that both of them are probably going to birdie 18 and I have got to be prepared for a playoff here. I just have to execute good golf shots.”

Sure enough, both of them birdied, he entered the three-man playoff, and won.

This example speaks to the importance of expecting the unexpected and assuming the worst outcome. Deep down, Haas knew that the odds of them both making birdie was very unlikely, but he had to prepare his mind and body for more holes. He couldn’t let himself think for a second that he had won the tournament because it wasn’t over. He couldn’t let their play on the final hole impact his approach and play.

This is a lesson all golfers (and other athletes) can learn from. Not letting the play of your competitors get in your own head is a difficult, yet valuable ability. Regardless of whether the gap is widening or closing in between you and your competitors, it is essential to only focus on executing your own play. As soon as you begin to compare your play with the play of your competition, you are doomed.

Another important thing we can learn from Haas’ situation is that whatever the situation, it’s beneficial to expect your opponent to do the unexpected. If you can mentally prepare yourself for such outcomes, you will be able to more effectively and calmly execute your own processes.

Sports Psychology/Mental Training from Mental Apex

The self-fulfilling prophecy not only plays a role in athletic events, but also in work situations, like a businessman conducting a presentation or an attorney trying to sway the jury. If you don’t believe in your own skill set to achieve positive results (regardless of the context), the odds of succeeding plummet.

32-year-old golfer Sergio Garcia, currently ranked the world’s 21st best, essentially sang to the world last week that he has a negative self-fulfilling prophecy. Before teeing off in the final round of the Masters, Garcia said, “I’m not good enough [to win a major]. In 13 years, I’ve come to the conclusion that I need to play for second or third place.” This was an astonishing thing for golf fans to hear even though he receives constant criticism for always contending but never winning at the majors (he has three 2nd place finishes in majors).

Either Sergio Garcia is playing a game of reverse psychology on the media and other golfers by saying he can’t win or he has a serious lack of self-confidence. Golfers often come out of nowhere to win major tournaments, so why does he think he truly isn’t good enough?

Let’s face it; Garcia is well equipped to win a major. But if he ever actually wins one, he needs to believe that he can. It all starts from within. If he continues to believe that he can’t win before he hits a shot in the first round, he’s right – he’ll never win one. But if he develops a positive self-fulfilling prophecy and can picture himself holding up the trophy on Sunday afternoon, then he will win. Don’t doubt yourself when there is no reason to! See and believe the positive outcome, go through the rhythmic process, and the rest will fall right into place.

Sports Psychology/Mental Training from Mental Apex

A commercial from McGladrey, a company that specializes in “Assurance, Tax and Consulting” according to their website, is a great example of what not to do during competition. A golfer, Davis Love III, and his caddie, in this case a representative of negative thought, are crouched on a putting green attempting to read how the ball will break when the caddie begins to speak. “Don’t think about the millions of viewers, don’t think about all those guys right on your tail… and don’t hit it three feet passed because then you’re looking at a possible three putt, that’s going to crush your score. Good luck!”

These are exactly the types of thoughts that run through the minds of athletes everywhere under stressful situations and are often detrimental to one’s performance. Most times when athletes think to themselves, “don’t swing at the curveball in the dirt” that is exactly what they end up doing because they are so fixated on that particular thought.

Positive self-talk is very important and is something that can be worked on at any time. It is imperative to lock in on the elements you can control as an athlete such as breathing to relax or executing a specific trigger to help narrow your focus. Narrowing your focus to implement a task you have complete control over allows you to feel more confident during performance thus creating a positive mindset. A perfect time to begin changing ones internal thought is at practice. Instead of thinking, “don’t hit the ball to the shortstop because it will result in a double play” a batter could begin ingraining a narrowed focused by thinking, “keep my weight back to hit the ball to the opposite field.” This is a simple change in connotation that will boost confidence and positive thinking during performance.

Here is a link to the video. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SlPqRa4WAg8&feature=related

Sports Psychology/Mental Training from Mental Apex

There are certain characteristics that all great teams must have if they plan on winning a championship. One of them is hard work. Teams must put in the time and be dedicated to conditioning, practice and getting prepared for their games. These elements resonated through each player as they displayed the desire to want to work hard and get better. It wasn’t just with lifting weights or swinging the bat during BP. It was also the willingness to sharpen their mental game. Their eagerness to learn, train and put themselves in position handle the adversity of competition.

Another aspect important for team success is building a productive culture that ball players are willing to buy in to. Our main focus for the week was to establish being accountable, motivated and to be in control. It’s important for each player to be responsible for their actions on and off the field of play. Players also need to maintain control at all times. As soon as an individual allows another element to distract them, whether a bad call, an opponent, a coach, weather, anything, then they have completely given up their power. Don’t ever give up your power and become powerless, ever! This mantra has to be a pillar in the foundation of what a team believes in.

The last thing that great teams must posses to have any chance of being a dominant force is team chemistry. This factor goes a long way and makes up for many obstacles that will be endured throughout the course of a season. The ULM Warhawks have an impressive foundation of team unity and family. These guys are willing to have their brother’s back no matter the situation. All is possible when a team is as close as what I witnessed in Monroe.

These key factors have led to a fast start for Warhawks Nation. They currently hold a 4-1 record and have the Nations highest RPI rating out of all Division I teams. The key to keep this rolling will be their dedication and trust to continue to buy in to the culture that has been established, through thick and thin. When adversity strikes their bond will need to be stronger than ever. And from what I saw throughout that week in Monroe, the Warhawks have all the team ingredients to go far this year.

Sports Psychology/Mental Training from Mental Apex

Tiger wore a pair of white golf spikes.

This may not seem like front page news but it is vey interesting especially with Tiger’s extremely average performance in Abu Dhabi two weeks prior where he was expected to win as he entered the final round with a share of the lead. Tiger has always prowled the golf course on Sundays in a set outfit since the beginning of his PGA Tour days consisting of all black clothing and a red polo shirt.

This is not a man forgetting to pack another pair of spikes, as he is THE reason Nike Golf exists and is always the best dressed man on a golf course, this is a man who has lost confidence in his game, ability, and himself when the stakes are raised. The sheer fact that Tiger is thinking a pair of white golf spikes is the answer to his woes is cause of greater concern.

Further evidence of Tiger’s deflating confidence could be seen in his pre-shot routine. Thursday through Saturday he would take two slow and relaxed practice swings then address the ball. On Sunday he would take three or more very exaggerated practice swings, as he simply did not look comfortable with the added pressure and expectations of a possible victory.

Many athletes have experienced paralysis by analysis, essentially over-thinking to the point where it becomes detrimental to ones performance. This is what the former worlds number one golfer is experiencing, Tiger is over thinking the room, many analysts still believe he is the best golfer in any tournament he enters. Tiger needs to believe that he is the best on Sundays again if he wants to once again dominate the sport. Sure Jason Giambi wore a slump busting leopard print thong, but if Tiger believes white shoes on Sunday is the answer to his PGA winless streak then the streak seems destined to continue.

Sports Psychology/Mental Training from Mental Apex

There are three main components to concentration – attention, sustained attention, and sizing up of the situation.

Attention is selectively focusing on relevant environmental cues. There are many distractions during this tournament, but by focusing one’s attention to the meaningful surroundings, one’s concentration improves.

The second component, sustained attention, is all about maintaining this attentional focus. The reason Phil is so mentally strong is because he is able to maintain a high level of focus over the course of a five-hour round of golf. Try to increase your focus little by little and see if your performance improves.

Sizing up the situation is the final component to concentration. Athletes must understand the situation. For example, a basketball player at the end of the game must ignore the distractions of the fans, trash talk, and referees, but must still be aware of the score, the time remaining, the number of timeouts, and so on. Understanding the situation is what Phil Mickelson does on the golf course every day. Coming down the stretch on Sunday, he knew exactly what to do to execute his shots for an impressive win.

Concentrating is not an easy thing to do and it takes practice, but if you can try to hone in on these three components, your concentration will improve!

Sports Psychology/Mental Training from Mental Apex

There are many amazing factors about this Jeremy Lin story. The fact that he is Asian American playing in the NBA is one (The first American born player in history to be of Chinese or Taiwanese decent). Or the fact that he played his collegiate career at Harvard University (Only one other player has ever played at Harvard and made it to the NBA). Or the fact that he wasn’t even drafted coming out of college. Lin has definitely seized the moment even with all these odds stacked against him.

Although all of these factors make for a great story, probably the most impressive and overlooked element of all is the fact that he continued to work hard and prepare himself to take advantage of his opportunity.

A lot can be learned from Lin’s story. Always work hard at your craft no matter what. You may not be getting the time you want or feel you deserve. You may feel like things aren’t going the way they should and there is no light at the end of the tunnel. It’s easy to fall into a rut and lose confidence in your game when things aren’t going your way. Regardless of the tough times you are going through as an athlete, you must be prepared at all times because you never know when your number will be called.

Sports Psychology/Mental Training from Mental Apex