So, roughly 7 years and two Olympic Games later I was excited to come in to contact with Sam Parfitt and The True Athlete Project. TAP’s mission of making a positive social change through improving athletes experiences in sport with a strong focus on mindful practices, resonated deeply with me. I had spent some time leading up to competing in the Rio Olympics thinking about the social impact and costs involved in hosting the Olympic Games and writing about athletes’ responsibility to speak out on social issues that concern them. TAP seemed to encompass what I had been thinking about and go further still by setting out practical methods by which real cultural change could eventually happen. This was an organisation that I wanted to get behind. As the performance director of a fencing club in Copenhagen, Denmark, it’s my task to optimise training and competition practices to enable our athletes to fulfil their potential and hopefully achieve world class results. The resources available to us in the sport of fencing in Denmark are a fraction of those in the nations that we must compete and succeed against in order to rise in the ranks. Since we cannot hope to compare in terms of financial support, participation numbers or organisational capacity, we know that we must find smarter, more innovative ways to develop and improve. Mindfulness in my opinion is, today, considered much the same way as sport psychology was 40 years ago. A small number of top athletes and coaches are ahead of the curve in using mindfulness techniques to improve their game. Some, such as the Chicago Bulls, embraced it with incredible success as far back as the late 80’s when their team was led by Michael Jordan. But mindfulness is by no means mainstream in elite sport, which is where the opportunity lies for those of us who are searching.  The connection between the mindful training of your ability to be more present and the experience of being in Flow (or, 'in the zone') is clear enough to justify special focus on mindful practice. When you add in the numerous physical and mental health benefits that have been attributed to that very same practice, it becomes almost irresponsible to ignore. Step into the fold TAP’s Mindfulness for Sport workshop; a packed two days of discussing theory and picking up practical tools, interspersed with experiencing first-hand the various mindful techniques that can be deployed. The wealth of experience and expertise in their team combined with the organisation’s values and mission, position TAP firmly at the heart of the mindful sport revolution. The flow of the weekend was tangible, starting with an introduction to mindfulness, it’s benefits and applications, as well as methods for communicating them to the coaching team, athletes and parents. This was followed by moving outside to go through a dynamic, mindful warm-up, some high-intensity mental focus agility games and a surprisingly enjoyable introductory session of Tai Chi. Then came one of the highlights for me; a guided mindful walk. As simple as it sounds it was a powerful experience, showing just how engaging a simple exercise such as standing, focusing on the feeling of shifting weight from one foot to the other can be. After just ten or so minutes, having gradually progressed up to normal walking speed, the exercise finished, and when I brought my attention back to ‘normal’, found myself in a wholly different state of mind to the one I started in. In fact, it even felt like I had been roused into a different physical location entirely. It struck me that the inherent simplicity of this practice combined with the resulting feeling would make for a powerful way to bring uninitiated athletes into the mindful world. This part of the workshop naturally progressed into a discussion on the theme of a ‘container’; the environment and conditions under which mindfulness is introduced and practiced with groups. This is where organisational psychology meets spirituality, using clear communication, agreements and rituals to create an open and safe space that allows participants to feel comfortable exploring new perspectives. Day two included trying out another style of mindful sitting, this time the Zen method, which turned out to offer up a very different kind of struggle to hold focus on the present moment. I’d never really considered the variety of experiences that come from the different forms of mindfulness practice, but I found out it can feel very distinct both during and after a session. The culmination of the weekend was the detailed work on formulating a structure for weaving mindfulness into the culture of my club back home. We will start with a series of introductory weekly sessions, where the athletes will get to experience the various forms of mindful practice, and then instil a short breathing exercise at the beginning of training sessions. The program builds up from there, including exercises to do at home, a points system for mindful activities undertaken and then eventually regular, scheduled group or team sittings. Having started talking to some of my athletes around this theme, I can feel a genuine sense of intrigue from them, but I also know that it will not be a straightforward sell. There will be some that don’t see how the practice links to their performance or are put off by the traditional spiritual stigma around mindfulness. It can also be difficult to stick to a regular routine of mindfulness, and paradoxically it’s often the first thing to drop off when life gets busier or more stressful. But that’s precisely why integrating it into the structures of our athletes’ lives is so important. If we can make it a part of every training session then they don’t need to set aside time for it and they can just go about their day as usual getting their dose along the way. I’m excited to get going with the project and to see what the reactions from the athletes will be. I have a feeling that this program will be especially valuable to the teenagers who struggle with the usual distractions and confusions of teenage life on top of those in their sport. But the plan is also to bring on board the youngest fencers too, so that hopefully by the time they get to that stage, they are already better placed to deal with what comes. My thanks to Sam and to TAP for organising a fantastic weekend of learning and first-hand experience. I’m certain there is a huge, positive impact to be made by spreading this fantastic approach to sportspeople of all levels.
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 The global sport for development and peace (SDP) movement dates back to the historic Olympic Truce in Ancient Olympia. Today the movement is increasingly popular, with over 950 organizations and over 8,000 SDP “team players” registered on The International Platform on Sport and Development, a key online network dedicated to the SDP movement. Many international NGOs, as well as twenty-eight UN-affiliated agencies, are also integrating sport into their policies and programs at the country level. Sport as a tool for development is becoming increasingly recognized globally, highlighted recently in the United Nations’ post-2015 development agenda as an “important enabler of sustainable development”. This narrative has a familiar ring to it where, since the inception of SDP, there has been a longstanding agreement that the world of sport is a natural partnership for development initiatives with a large and unique potential to contribute to social change. Sport is often highlighted as a participatory, universal, inclusive and educational activity. Its cross-cutting nature and ability to inspire and empower individuals are also frequently cited as powerful and unique attributes in the development discourse. Sport today continues to be touted as a diverse tool that can contribute to a multiplicity of aspects of sustainable development, including human development, economic development, environment, peace, communications and advocacy, conflict prevention, health, demobilization and disarmament, youth development, disaster response, gender equality, war-related trauma and healing, social mobility and more. Could it be that overly optimistic goals have been developed about the transformative potential of sport? Critical authors and theorists argue that the SDP movement is dominated heavily by “evangelists”, or sporting enthusiasts with rosy views of the potential of sport, creating an underlying conviction that sport must lead to positive outcomes. It can be argued that this expectation-driven and overriding assumption that SDP initiatives are effective has restricted critical discussion and theoretically-informed reflection. It is important to recognize that sport and sport-based programs do not always have a positive, nor linear, relationship with social development. Sport’s longstanding and complex connection to warfare and violence is one more obvious aspect of this. Less visible, but also important, is the suggestion that the SDP sector is in fact in disarray, utilizing a haphazard variety of strategies and practices that are not adequately conceptualized nor effectively structured. Critics assert that this uncoordinated, often top-down approach fails to address the structural drivers of inequitable global systems and does not bring about notable social change, instead supporting and sustaining a fundamentally reproductive and colonial vision of development. This leads to a number of troubling questions. The SDP sector is teeming with protagonists, including athletes and sport enthusiasts who have experienced the power of sport and bring an honest and enthusiastic desire to “make a difference”. But - are good intentions enough? Have we been blinded by our own enthusiasm? Whose interests do SDP projects serve? Are our actions justified by the impact that they have or by the gratification that they bring to us? I argue that there is a need for a foundational shift in SDP. Perhaps it is time that we move beyond familiar borders and recognize not only our abilities, but also our inabilities, our powerlessness and our in-capabilities, in order to become more effective practitioners. Development needs to be reoriented and understood not as something to be done to or for people, but rather a process that should be undertaken with people. Do humans – athletes – need to be taught, or can we simply facilitate their unfolding? Tracing the philosophies of post-development scholars, the idea of “development” can be deconstructed from its linear, unidirectional understanding, to one of ubiquity. In doing this, we actively confront power. We must shift from a framework of modernity and dogmatic reason to one that recognizes the trans-relational, integrates the spiritual and acknowledges the full human potential. We must develop new vocabularies. We must disrupt orthodox systems. We must rethink, reframe and reimagine. Perhaps it is here that the True Athlete Project forges fresh ground. TAP seeks to invent, or reinvent, a culture of sport that provides a frame and holds space for individuals to explore their ways of being, their identities, their potentials and their selves. Recognizing the human being as an energetic whole, TAP proposes a holistic approach to integrate the mind, body and spirit of athletes. What would the sport for development sector look like if it started from, and ended with, empathic, mindful, whole human beings? What is our individual and collective role in this? How do you reimagine SDP?  Ellen Kim holds a M.A. in Sustainable Peace through Sport from the University for Peace and is completing a second M.A. in Peace, Development, Security and International Conflict Transformation through the UNESCO Chair for Peace Studies in Innsbruck. As a former elite rhythmic gymnast, Ellen is passionate about sport and other embodied methods as powerful tools for transformation. She has experience working with grassroots social projects, NGOs, sporting bodies such as National Olympic Committees, as well as international organizations such as the United Nations. Ellen is particularly interested in the integration of creativity, spirituality and all aspects of human nature into the sport for development and peace movement. She looks forward to exploring this approach with The True Athlete Project.
SIGN UP HERE TO RECEIVE OUR NEWSLETTERS!  By Nicole Gabana, a certified sport psychology consultant (CC-AASP) and Ph.D student at Indiana University Bloomington. A former NCAA division one rower, Nicole's doctoral research has focused on the integration of positive psychology and sport, specifically the effects of gratitude on the brain, as well as on athlete wellbeing. In her book, Positivity, Dr. Barbara Fredrickson begins with an anonymous parable about a Cherokee grandfather speaking with his grandson: One evening an old Cherokee told his grandson about a battle that goes on inside people. He said, “My son, the battle is between two wolves inside us all. One is evil. It is anger, envy, jealousy, sorrow, regret, greed, arrogance, self-pity, guilt, resentment, inferiority, lies, false pride, superiority, and ego.” “The other is good. It is joy, peace, love, hope, serenity, humility, kindness, benevolence, empathy, generosity, truth, compassion, and faith.” The grandson thought about it for a minute and then asked his grandfather, “Which wolf wins?” The old Cherokee simply replied, “The one you feed.” In sport and in life, feeding the good wolf is essential to character development, performing with integrity, and becoming a true athlete. In this blog post, I will discuss how gratitude can be food for the good wolf, leading to gains in both personal and performance domains. Gratitude has been associated with numerous emotional, psychological, and physical health benefits, including better quality of sleep, subjective well-being (i.e., happiness), life satisfaction, increased positive affect, altruism, and interpersonal connectedness (Wood et al., 2010). The positive effects of gratitude may be amplified when people express appreciation outwardly, rather than just thinking or feeling grateful (Davis et al., 2016). Athletes and other performers are accustomed to facing adversity in their pursuit of optimal performance. They are no strangers to pain, sweat, tears, and hardship. The greatest performers overcome obstacles by consistently strengthening their resilience, and gratitude can facilitate that process. Gratitude expression has been correlated with greater neuroplasticity in the brain (Kini et al., 2016), and according to Fredrickson’s (2001) Broaden and Build Theory, cultivating positive emotions such as gratitude can lead to better creativity, problem-solving, and resource utilization, factors which can ultimately contribute to enhanced performance. Expressing gratitude may strengthen resilience by increasing perceived social support and developing positive coping skills when times get tough. For a moment, consider a great athlete, performer, or mentor who has been a role model to you. Would you describe this person as grateful? Gratitude is a quality that is often associated with humility, dedication, appreciation of others, and level-headedness. This means knowing where you came from and who helped you along the way; recognizing and appreciating the experiences and people who have contributed to your growth, both as a person and an athlete. Practicing gratitude, both internally and outwardly, keeps one grounded and maintains one’s perspective.  So how do we cultivate gratitude in sport and in life? Let’s start here.
1.Daily Gratitude Mindfulness Recap – This exercise can be practiced at any time of the day, but may be especially effective in the evening or before going to bed. In your mind, replay your day from the moment you woke up to the present moment, while identifying each thing for which you feel grateful. This can be done through mental recapping (merely thinking of each thing) or by gratitude journaling (writing down each moment of gratitude and why it was meaningful to you). Recapping and identifying these moments after a successful OR difficult practice/performance can provide perspective and strengthen your resilience during times of adversity. Here are a few examples: “My alarm went off this morning, which meant I was on time for practice.” “My roommate picked up an extra bagel for me which shows he was thinking of me.” “My coach invested time in my growth today by sharing feedback on my technique.” “My mom/dad called me today to see how I am doing which shows me they care.” “I had time off tonight to watch a movie and relax, which is good for my well-being.” Challenge yourself to notice things on both the micro level (e.g., “I didn’t have to wait in line at the post office.”) and the macro level (e.g., “I am grateful for spending time with my family because they bring meaning and purpose to my life.”) 2.Gratitude Letter – Gratitude expression, especially when interpersonal in nature, has commonly been associated with stronger social connectedness. Since humans are social beings, we thrive on meaningful relationships with friends, family, teammates, coaches, and partners. Performance often benefits when our interpersonal relationships are flourishing. Sure, we often think about how much we appreciate those who bring joy to our life and challenge us to grow, but how often do we actually say it? Research shows that writing a letter of gratitude to someone in your life and reading it to them out loud can produce a significant interpersonal experience for both the writer and the recipient (Seligman et al., 2005). If you are unable to read the letter out loud, other options might include sending a letter, writing an email, leaving a note, or making a phone call. 3.Gratitude Apps – There are a number of gratitude apps out there to serve as a reminder to practice gratitude on a daily basis (see below for a few of my favorites which can be found in the iTunes App Store). Give them a try and see what works for you! I personally enjoy “7s Meditation”. This app sends you a daily thought prompt such as “What are 3 things you are grateful for right now?” or “Express gratitude toward someone who consistently brings you joy.” Gratitude apps: 7s Meditation Gratitude Journal 365 HappyFeed Uplifter Moments—A Photo Gratitude Journal This week, I challenge you to practice one or more of these exercises. Just as you dedicate yourself to a physical regimen, commit yourself to improving your mental gratitude routine. Gradually, as you use these strategies repeatedly over time, you will begin to see a shift in the way you see the world and yourself. Just as we train our bodies to develop physical habits, our mindset is similarly shaped by consistent, repeated thoughts over time. Train your brain to be grateful, and see if you notice a difference… in your ability to be resilient in the face of adversity; in the quality and depth of your relationships with others; in your own sense of purpose in the world; and in your role as an athlete and as a human being. Don’t forget to feed the good wolf.  By Meagan Ernd Meagan is a former NCAA division one volleyball player for the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga. She currently works as a digital media specialist at JCDecaux and as a media contributor for The True Athlete Project.  Buddha once expressed, “All we are is a result of what we have thought.” Any of the Olympians who competed in Rio this year would attest to this, especially prolific champions like Michael Phelps! But it's not just Olympians who deserve access to mental skills training; The True Athlete Project believes it should be a staple in the life of every athlete! Today, we talk to sport psychologist and member of The True Athlete Project board of directors, Michael Johnson, PhD. Dr. Johnson is the Director of Clinical and Sport Psychology at the University of Arkansas. He was also a member of the NCAA division one men’s swim team at Brown University - he's our very own Michael Phelps! We explore some of his current work, and discuss what it was like for him as a student-athlete, and how his experiences have influenced his work in the athletics department at University of Arkansas. Me: Hi Dr. J! It’s great to have this opportunity to interview you for the TAP blog, since you are such an integral member of this amazing team. What’s new over in the athletics department at UA this fall? Dr. Johnson: Hi Meagan!! Have you heard of Kognito? Me: No, would you mind explaining what that is? Dr. Johnson: Kognito is a psychology-based computer program that enables faculty, staff, students, and student leaders to promote emotional wellness on college and university campuses through learning situations. Programs like Kognito allow members of our staff to develop a better understanding of our athletes, especially of those who are undergoing mental distress or have experienced past trauma. Me: Wow! I wasn’t aware that programs like that were available. It makes me wonder how many other athletic departments would be willing to invest in a program like that. Dr. Johnson: Well, shockingly enough, only a small portion of budgets are allotted to mental health specifically. Luckily, I work within a department that is willing to make such investments more of a priority. As you know, it is imperative that student-athletes maintain a healthy emotional state or else their performance suffers as well as their quality of life. Me: You are absolutely right about that! I know that you swam during your college career at Brown University – can you elaborate on what your experience was like as former student-athlete? Dr. Johnson: During my time in college, the concept of sport psychology was still fairly new and rarely did athletes seek professional help, nor were those services really offered. For me personally, I was able to confide in one of the priests on campus. He became a confidant and someone I could turn to during difficult times. I’m very grateful for that support because I faced the challenge of battling depression. In addition to the support of the priest, I had support from the Brown community in general, but again mental health services were not really offered when I attended school. Me: Have you found that your experiences as a student-athlete have helped you in your practice as the sports psychologist for UA? Dr. Johnson: Of course! It elevated my level of empathy with student-athletes because I experienced the same physical, as well as mental, stressors during my athletic career. Now as the psychologist, I can support the athletes by attending their practices to observe how they are being treated and can step in when coaches need to be told ‘No’ – a word they are not told too often. The environment of student-athletes is very important. Me: How did you become interested in sports psychology and how did you end up becoming a sports psychologist? Dr. Johnson: I worked several different jobs throughout the years. My degree from Brown is actually in Economics and I worked for the government for quite some time managing budgets for the Fairfax County (Virginia) school system. After sixteen years, I experienced a shift in motivation for my work. I coached my own travel team and realized how much I enjoyed doing that. I wanted to get back into the athletic world. Me: What are some of the challenges the athletes you see face? Dr. Johnson: Student-athletes face the challenge of adjusting to their environment, academics, and social pressures like normal students but they also have demands from their coaches as well. A fair amount of the athletes I’ve seen experience anxiety, depression, homesickness, mental abuse, lack of emotional awareness, high physical stress etc. When I have the chance to work with these athletes, I can offer my support by simply asking them the right questions that provide insight into their behaviors and emotional states. One question I will often ask them is, “What did you get out of that?” Me: Besides asking good questions, what other techniques are part of your repertoire? Dr. Johnson: Personally, I am a huge fan of imagery techniques and also just letting my athletes know that I care about their well-being. It is really important for the athletes that I work with to know that I understand them. I will never forget my second grade teacher Mrs. Phillips because she understood me. In that understanding, she was able to encourage me to pursue athletics further and perform even better in school. Building strong interpersonal relationships with my student-athletes is something that I strive for and also encourage them to do with their peers as well. I help provide student-athletes with the tools to develop vital mental skills, coping mechanisms, and enhanced performance. Programs like The True Athlete Project are great because they are enabling young athletes in those areas as well.  Dr. Michael Johnson is the director of clinical and sport psychology at the University of Arkansas. He holds a Ph.D in counseling Psychology from Florida State University and has published scientific articles addressing a range of performance-related topics. In addition, Dr. Johnson regularly consults for the World Anti-Doping Agency. He was previously a professor at the University of Texas, a division one swimmer for Brown University and he coached high school swimmers for 17 years.
 “Sport has the power to change the world. It has the power to inspire. It has the power to unite people in a way that little else does. Sport can create hope where once there was only despair. It is more powerful than government in breaking down racial barriers.” – Nelson Mandela
Seven days ago a controversial and contested presidential election rocked the United States. Many felt that the contemporary ideals of inclusion, unity, and diversity were rejected, sparking fear, protest and confusion around the world. With a campaign season defined by misogyny, racism and xenophobia, this election sits in direct opposition to the feelings felt by many Americans eight years ago, as history was made when the United States elected their very first black President. A man who inspired a nation to believe in change, hope and the idea that we are better together. There is a necessity to remember those feelings of understanding and optimism, as the world faces a time period defined by uncertainty, division and fear. As America looks to the future, there is so much to be learned from history and the triumphs of those who defied discrimination before us. On December 5th, 2013, Nelson Mandela passed away. In his wake he left a legacy of equality and empathy; unifying a nation and earning his place in history books through struggle, perseverance and faith. While Mandela will be remembered for many awe-inspiring accomplishments, his understanding of the power and potential of sport to affect change and promote peace was and continues to be unparalleled among world leaders. Mandela placed trust in the influence of sport to reconcile a nation. Just a year after the country’s first multiracial elections and Mandela’s election as the first black president of South Africa, the country hosted the 1995 Rugby World Cup. Rugby in South Africa was a white man’s game, a symbol of apartheid to many non-whites, a reminder of minority rule. As the South African Springboks reached the World Cup final, Mandela sported the green Springbok jersey; a symbol of oppression, beloved by his apartheid jailers. The Springboks took home the 1995 Rugby World Cup, but this sporting achievement was much more than a game, it signalled the beginning of a united South Africa. While the political process in America may have failed to bring unity and inspiration to many, powerful tools, such as sport, may be the answer to bridging divides in society and promoting environments of compassion and empathy. Sport has a unique ability to promote acceptance, integration and understanding; working as an influential instrument to encourage respect for rules, peaceful reconciliation and non-violence. Sharing in the success of sport, be it on the sidelines or on the court, allows for the humanization of those around you. Pushing people to view one another as human beings and not opposing opinions. With so many stories similar to the 1995 Springbok World Cup victory sprinkled throughout history, sport maintains its place in society as a unifier and a source of constant inspiration; two things that this week our current world is in need of. “The ultimate power of sport happens inside the huddle…it doesn’t matter whether you’re black, white, Middle Eastern, Latino, Asian or Native American. It matters not whether you’re Christian, Jewish, Buddhist, Muslin, Sikh Hindu or believe in any other religion or in no religion. It does not matter whether you are old or young, gay or straight, from a rich family or poor family. The team simply cannot win unless everyone pulls together. Imagine if that power of sports spread to all institutions and communities across the globe.” – Richard E. Lapchick Written by Catherine Houston - Houston holds an MSc from the University of Edinburgh. A retired university volleyball player, Katie remains passionate about the power of sport as a transformative social tool and force for good. With an extensive background in both Sport for Peace and marketing, having worked previously with the UNHCR and PeacePlayers International, Catherine has joined The True Athlete Project as media and marketing officer. Read for motivation. Just as the right song can push you through a challenging obstacle, the right book or article can sharpen your focus. Until I read Season of Life, by Jeffrey Marx, I wasn’t sure how to show my players how much I cared about them. Just when I thought there would never be another book as inspirational as Season of Life, Joe Ehrmann, the subject of Season of Life, released InSideOut Coaching. Coach Ehrmann challenges coaches to develop a coaching philosophy based on the following questions: 1. Why do I coach? 2. Why do I coach the way I do? 3. What does it feel like to be coached by me? 4. How do I define success? From philosophy to practice. Rather than putting the book down and reverting back to old habits, coaches and athletes (just take the above questions and change “coach” to “compete”) can share their developed philosophies. A covenant is a great way to put philosophy into committed practice. I learned this technique from Carol Hotchkiss at the Durango Institute a few years ago, and found it a bit easier to digest than a “contract.” The definition has been adapted to fit coaching and training:  COVENANT: a contract of agreement between the [institution/program], parents, and [athletes] that supports the mission and objectives of the [institution/program], respects the commitment and investment of the parents, and honors the potential and integrity of each [athlete]. (The Durango Institute)  In my role as a youth coach, I could use Ehrmann’s questions to establish the program’s philosophy, then have players, parents, and assistant coaches provide their expectations and obligations to each other. So a player submits a covenant to parents and coaches; parents submit a covenant to their son and coaches; coaches submit a covenant to players and parents.
A covenant provides clear expectations and transparency from all involved. In my experience as a coach, I found sharing my coaching philosophy along with the covenants improved player and parent buy-in, provided me more autonomy with the school, and shifted focus from wins and losses to embracing each season as a unique experience. Writing as mental floss. Once a coach or athlete finds clarity in why they coach or compete, there are still the other parts of your lives that clutter your brains. So how do we clear our minds for competition? Combined with meditation and mindfulness practices, stream of consciousness writing, or Proprioceptive Writing, will bring focus, lift burdens, and resolve conflicts. You can write to remove mental obstacles that negatively impact performance. Tips for Stream-of-Consciousness Writing. 1. Establish clear rules or guidelines. These may include no rules or time limits. 2. Know your space & audience (journal, team, class, presentation) 3. Use model texts (Season of Life; InSideOut Coaching) 4. Find a routine — create a habit 5. Do something with it (read it, mark it up, share it, hide it, throw it away, don’t send it!) “Sometimes you’re the statue, and sometimes you’re the pigeon.” Coaches often use the cliche that there is always someone faster, smarter, stronger. That the competition is always finding ways to defeat you. As athletes find success, thinking like a novice can keep them from being “the statue.” Reading for inspiration and writing for drive encourages reflection and pushes athletes and coaches into a novice’s mindset. As novices: we dig in, cling to mentors, take risks, and strive to improve. The True Athlete Project is committed to learning from all True Athletes. If you have a book or piece of writing that has inspired you, or a writing prompt to share, please share with us by submitting your experience here! By Tim Chakwin, True Athlete Project Member, Dean of Residential Life and English professor at The McCallie School, Co-Founder of Chattanooga Lacrosse, Lacrosse Coach, Father of two energetic young athletes! “It’s not the size of the dog in the fight, it’s the size of the fight in the dog.” - Mark Twain Mark Twain’s famous quote could not be a more fitting in the world of competitive tennis. Emotional Aptitude in Tennis peeks into why athletes with seemingly solid games lose... and lose often. Most players enter the game intently focused on improving technical (strokes), mental (strategic) and their athletic components. Unfortunately, these outward components are kidnapped due to under-developed emotional skill sets. I have written a new book, Emotional Aptitude in Sports, as a result of my curious obsession with the root causes of choking and panicking under stress. Why do a handful of players at the club have all the trophies? Why isn’t on-court stroke production, riding the stationary bike or buying the latest gear helping athletes earn more hardware? To the untrained eye, technique and mental toughness seems to take the blame for most losses. But if these components appear flawless in practice on Friday only to abandon the athlete in Saturday's match, there is definitely more to the story. All too often it’s an athlete’s lack of emotional aptitude that’s holding them hostage under stress. Successfully handling competitive pressure demands a more focused emotional developmental regimen. Decades of observational research has shown me that emotional aptitude is more important than “perfect” technique in athletic competition. Athletes are often frustrated that their match day performance is far inferior to their practice performance. The majority of tennis athletes interviewed believed that the inherent complexity of their sport is the cause of their stress that halts their success. But in actuality, their stress is caused by simply being judged. While every top athlete must be willing to put in the hours developing their technique, becoming physically fit and understanding tennis specific strategic plans, to be a successful competitor, they must also to be able to perform when it counts. As professionals, we see it every weekend, in every age division whether we realize it or not. Elegant looking, well trained athletes often wilt under the heat of competition while seemingly unorthodox looking competitors flourish. Why? The answer is the athlete’s lack of complete development- avoiding the development of the emotional component. Let's use the computer analogy to further explain this phenomena. I'd like you to look at an athlete the same way you look at your computer. For the computer to run efficiently both the external hardware and internal software packages work seamlessly together. For the athlete, their hardware package consists of their technical and athletic aptitude. Their software package consists of their mental and emotional aptitude. Far too many athletes are unevenly developed as competitors. Poor emotional aptitude actually causes your students technique to break down, their footwork to vanish, their focus to waver and their problem solving skills to abandon them when they need them the most. It’s our job as industry leaders to begin to develop the skill sets necessary to strengthen most athlete’s weakest link …which is the emotional muscle.  Parents need to know that this situation is partially the teaching professional’s failure. As I travel across the country I see two very common teaching scenarios, one set of coaches are the political “snow job” artist and the second set are true developmental artist. I see the “snow job” artist at posh country clubs, in parks and rec's and coaching D-1 College. They are political masters. They fully understand that teaching “change” is difficult and uncomfortable. It's much, much easier for them to fluff over the difficult changes and keep everyone coming back smiling next week. I get it- if the athlete wants to hit and giggle. But in order to serve the best interest of the competitive tennis player, more of the second set of coaches are needed- those who choose to develop a complete athlete by developing technical, athletic, mental and emotional components to maximize the player’s potential. The True Athlete Project gives practical training to coaches so they can develop the whole athlete. Of course this produces a more well-rounded human being, but it also nurtures a finer athlete, who can handle competitive pressure demands. I employ the coaches to take the high road in the education of your children. The challenge for both the parents and the coaches is to do the research and improve so teaching the more difficult components becomes second nature. This requires both IQ... And emotional aptitude. Which brings us full circle. Understanding emotional aptitude as a parent or coach will help you help your athletes as you connect at a deeper level. It will aid you in mastering difficult components and conversations. Most importantly, emotional intelligence will assist you in developing more efficient competitors at crunch time. I’m convinced that the future leaders are the teachers who are open to learning and then sharing. This is what moves us all forward.  Connect with Frank Giampaolo via Facebook or receive his free monthly newsletter at: www.maximizingtennispotential.com
Frank Giampaolo is a bestselling author of The Tennis Parent’s Bible, Championship Tennis and Raising Athletic Royalty. He is a sports education veteran, convention speaker, sports educator and instructional writer for ITF (International Tennis Federation), Coaching & Sports Science Review, UK Tennis magazine, USPTA, USTA, Tennis Magazine and Tennis View Magazine. He is planned to deliver workshops with The True Athlete Project beginning in 2017. The year is 1932. Americans watch in apprehension as their beloved Babe Ruth takes to the batting box of the World Series, representing the iconic New York Yankees. Having struck out twice, Ruth prepares himself for his final attempt at victory. What happens next will have sports fans debating for decades. It looks as though Ruth, assuredly, points to an area behind the flagpole indicating that, with his next swing, he will score a homerun. Yankees fans clench their teeth in trepidation as he takes position. The strike of the ball on the bat rings out across the stadium and Americans cheer as Ruth races to home base, his feet moving swiftly across the dirt, ultimately scoring a home run. The stands roar with enthusiasm and, for a moment, all is right with the world. This scene is a celebrated moment that every American knows well and that children have emulated in their very own gardens for decades. It is spectacular moments, such as this, that give children the inspiration to conquer the playing field themselves, ultimately uncovering the wonderful world of sport.
Few things can compare to the feeling of the warm summer’s sun on your skin, the faint sound of a whistle blowing from a distance, or the redeeming feeling of loosing oneself in the steadfast beat of your own feet on the turf. However, iconic moments and sensations such as these are often substituted with pixelated fields and players, requiring nothing more than nimble thumbs and weary, dead-set eyes. Children spend their days eagerly clicking away, all for the comfortable satisfaction of knowing they’ve made it to the next level. But as the day comes to an end and the screen fades, there is little to be said for small, video game victories. Unfortunately, those who are courageous enough to brave the real world of sport are often met with angry, distraught coaches, dissatisfied parents, and all-round unpleasant experiences. When did we let sport become a ‘win at all costs’ display of fraudulence and disrespect? We have lost touch with a vital aspect of our culture, an aspect that teaches respect, dignity, perseverance and dedication. We have lost touch with sport. It is becoming more and more infrequent for children to pursue sport and physical activity with the forever-escalading field of technological and Internet gaming. The Sports & Fitness Industry Association (SFIA) reports that fewer than twenty-seven percent of American youths aged six to twelve were participating in organized or unstructured sports in the year 2015. That is nearly a four percent drop from a previous survey conducted in 2008. Additionally, the rate among children aged thirteen to seventeen decreased from 42.7% to 39.3% from 2008 to 2015. So, why does this matter? Why should the steady decline in our youth’s participation in sport and physical activities concern us? The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) states that children require sixty minutes of physical activity each day. These activities should include a variety of aerobic, bone strengthening and muscle strengthening exercises. Yet recess times in both the United States and in the United Kingdom average less than thirty minutes a day, and rarely meet these exercise requirements. In short, extracurricular sport is a necessity to our youth’s health. It is vital to assist our youths, from an early age, in making the necessary steps to sustaining a healthy and happy life. But how do we encourage our children to pursue sport when their experiences of sport are so often tainted by the unrealistic expectations inflicted on them by coaches and parents? To change the experience of sport, we must learn to view sport as a way to develop our youths holistically, encouraging the values on which sports and sportsmanship were originally founded. The Aspen Institute’s ‘Project Play’ states “Only 1 in 5 youth coaches is trained in effective motivational technique with children.” The True Athlete Project aims to improve these figures through changing the way coaches are trained to instruct and inspire our children. Mindfulness, mentoring and mental skills training are the cornerstones of our approach. In the year 2012, more than one third of children living in the United States were found to be obese or overweight. Moreover, childhood obesity is proven to put children at risk for heart disease, diabetes, bone and joint complications, and psychological problems (CDC.gov). Working as a Registered Nurse in an urban hospital, I have witnessed many accounts of progressively deteriorating health related to a lack of proper physical education. Nearly every patient treated has fallen victim to hypertension, diabetes mellitus, hyperlipidemia or severe anxiety, often leading to further co-morbidities. We have learned to accept these diagnoses as they have become common given the culture we live in today. Additionally, exercise and healthy eating habits are often learned at an early age, and coaches frequently miss the profound opportunity to not only inspire children to pursue sport and physical activity, but to teach them how to take their health to a holistic level, practicing not just good physical health, but good mental health as well. I have often wondered what the world would look like if coaches seized this opportunity. Given the incidence of mental and physical illness in the western world, sport and physical activity seems a logical solution to these issues we face and coaches have an incredible opportunity to make an everlasting impact. The True Athlete Project aims to train coaches to motivate children to pursue sport and physical activity and to live mindful, holistic lives. Through this approach, we hope to make the world a happier and healthier place. Imagine a world with scarcer devastation in relation to preventable morbidities and disease. Imagine a world where we are united for the same cause, one that promotes health and wellbeing, in every sense of the word. Imagine a world united by sport. By Cloie Hamilton, R.N. Charlie’s father brought him to my office when it was clear he was no longer enjoying swimming. In the past, Charlie had generally been enthusiastic about his training and races, but there had been a notable and puzzling dip in his motivation and performance over the past few weeks. Talking to Charlie, it became clear that this dip coincided with the start of his school’s swim season. He swims for a top area club year-round and already had to miss a handful of school practices to meet obligations for his club team, something his school coach frowned upon. Charlie is a standout backstroker in an urban area rich with swimming talent, making him a coveted asset for every team he swims for. Wanting to live up to the expectations set for him, his daily schedule looked like this: wake up at 4am for club swim practice, attend a full day of school, go to school swim practice in the afternoon, do homework until around 10pm, then go to bed to start the cycle over. This schedule was hard enough to sustain, but what pushed him to the breaking point was an altercation with his school swim coach during which the coach berated him for missing the occasional practice and not being “committed enough” to his swimming. The joy that Charlie had once felt for his sport was fading, replaced by stress and a sense of never being enough. He had become fearful and tentative in the water and a beloved activity had become a thankless job to him. Now, Charlie is a pseudonym, and a few other details in this anecdote have been modified slightly to protect his privacy. But, one unaltered fact, which frankly is still stunning to me given what he was reporting, is that Charlie was only 12 years old at the time of our meeting, still in his first year of middle school.
How has it come to this? That sport, a domain that is so crucial to our socialization in Western culture, can become a if not the primary stressor to a kid like Charlie. The pressures to specialize and compete - i.e., “get serious” - about sport are being applied earlier and earlier and the greatest victim in that push also happens to be a key to both optimal experience and peak performance: fun. The importance of fun to sport has been captured in many concepts within sport science, perhaps none more influential than Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi’s flow. According to Csikszentmihalyi’s flow model, one of the key ingredients of this idyllic state that many now equate to being in “the zone” is what he calls autotelic experience, which basically means doing something purely for the joy of the activity itself (as opposed to for some ulterior benefit). When asked to comment on why autotelic experience can be so elusive as we grow up, Csikszentmihalyi has maintained that adults tend to view this type of motive for an activity as childish and therefore something to be ashamed of - see Daniel Pink’s fascinating 2009 book Drive: The Surprising Truth About What Motivates Us for a more detailed description of this conversation. This idea is profoundly intriguing to me and perhaps exposes one of the major deficits that exists in our culture of sport today. As athletes get older and more “serious” about their sports, we are essentially snuffing out one of the qualities that both most benefits sport performance and provides one of the greatest benefits of sport. I’m a clinical sport psychologist, and I’ll admit that I had fantasies of working with high-profile professional athletes when I first opened my practice in 2008. But, something totally unexpected and wonderful happened as I started branding myself in my community - many of the people who sought out my services weren’t the pros, but were adolescent and young-adult athletes who seemed to be dealing with some variant of the same issues as Charlie. The more I’ve learned about this trend through my clinical work and my research, the more passionate I’ve become about a new cause: promoting change in the culture of sport to strengthen and preserve what makes it such a powerful force of good for kids - intrinsic motivation, joy, learning, friendship; in short, autotelic experience. When I was in graduate school, I co-developed a program of research around bringing mindfulness to sport. For those who don’t know, there is a “mindful revolution” happening throughout psychology and society at large, and that movement is now beginning to spread into sport. Mindfulness is all about how we pay attention and operate within the moments of our lives, including the chaotic, high-pressure moments of athletic competition. This program grew into a dissertation study on an intervention my research team created, mindful sport performance enhancement (MSPE), and MSPE has now become one of the primary mindfulness-based mental training programs available for athletes and coaches (I’d like to shamelessly plug the book we’re writing on MSPE to be published by the American Psychological Association and released in 2017). One of our earliest studies of MSPE illustrated conceptual and empirical links between mindfulness and flow, and a number of other studies in the last decade have similarly demonstrated the connection. Thus, a major focus of my work has become exploring how MSPE might help facilitate this badly needed paradigm shift in sport, away from the extrinsic pressures that can be so stressful and damaging to athletes. While much of our research to date has focused on college and adult athletes, a recent pilot study I conducted with high school athletes showed incredibly promising results, with a very modestly sized sample which endured a variety of scheduling disruptions due to inclement weather nonetheless experiencing highly significant increases in dimensions of mindfulness and flow, and decreases in emotion-regulation difficulties. Furthering this exploration of how mindfulness and MSPE can enhance youth and scholastic athletes’ athletic performance and (both on- and off-the-field) experiences has led to an exciting collaboration with Sam Parfitt’s The True Athlete Project (TAP). Sam has already brought MSPE to a group of elementary school athletes with thrilling results. Among the comments made by the kids after MSPE were: “I feel like a weight lifted from my head and I’m free;” “I still get nervous at swim meets, but now I don’t let it get the better of me;” and “I feel like I’ve transformed, this is going to help me so much.” The plan is to continue making the program available in various ways through the organization. TAP’s mission to make the culture of sport more healthy by promoting innovative mind, body, and spirit approaches for athletes and coaches is a crucial one and one that I’m personally honored to be a part of. My sincere hope is that others will join the movement and help make experiences like Charlie’s a relic of the past. For more about MSPE and Dr. Keith Kaufman, please visit his websites: www.KeithKaufmanPhD.com and www.MindfulCompetitor.com. Olympic season. A time to rejoice. A time to witness the greatest athletes on the planet unite the world in a love of healthy competition. But make no doubt about it, we have a crisis. Sport – that noble pursuit – has been corrupted. Infected. Perverted from its original, powerful, playful purity. Unfortunately, the Olympic Games only casts a temporary spell over the state of sport. ------------ For thousands of years, humans have enjoyed playing - from community-building, ritualistic ball games, to running fast and throwing spears. Exceeding our boundaries. Citius Altius Fortius. Playing is as much a part of our humanity as sleeping or speaking. It helps us to understand the world, and ourselves. But how often does sport serve that purpose today? How often is it playful and freeing? How often, rather, does it become an ugly means to a greedy end? A catalyst for society’s ills rather than a cure? We don’t need a list of current global events to know a cure is exactly what society needs. And nothing has the same potential to cure intolerance, prejudice or disunity, as sport. Nelson Mandela famously said that “Sport has the power to change the world. It has the power to inspire, the power to unite people in a way that little else does. Sports can create hope where there was once only despair. Sport is the game of lovers.” But although sport might have the power to unite, it won't do so unless it can provide enjoyable, meaningful experiences and enduring life lessons. Is sport in a fit state to provide this experience? I don’t think so. Young athletes – cherry-picked at five, burnt out at ten. Others fighting their whole life for funding until all they can do is choose a different path. Dreams crushed. Female athletes – jeered for sacrificing the Barbie waist-to-hip ratio for following their passion. Soccer hooligans – filling stadiums and carpeting their cities with beer cans, fueling the nightmare that begins once the final whistle blows. Exuberant dives and deliberate handballs - excused as part of the culture of the game. PE classes - screaming teachers and groups of lads teasing anyone less “sporty”. Performance anxiety, depression, money-hungry ivory towers (aka national federations), rape and assault on campuses. Superstars who dope, idols who dodge social responsibility, and our finest heroes (think tennis players) who threaten officials: “I’m going to ******* take this ball and shove it down your ******* throat.” This is the state of sport. With this bitter cocktail, it is apparent that sport won’t improve society’s problems any time soon, no matter how glorious two weeks in Rio might seem. For sport's powerful change-making quality to be unleashed, we must radically change course.  "Play Up, Play Up and Play the Game" The Ancient Greeks knew sport mattered. Medieval knights too. Even the hardy Victorians recognized the power of sport; Victorian Britain introduced physical education in schools, invested in community sports facilities, and gave rise to modern sports and international competitions. Sports became so integral to the fabric of British life, that one Punch cartoonist was inspired thus: "Of course you needn't work, Fitzmilksoppe; but play you must, and shall!" Britain and her international rivals recognized the powerful symbolism of sport. Sports were likened to war and sporting success demonstrated superiority over other nations. Young men proved themselves fit for battle by modeling courageous “masculinity” on the field of play and sport became so tied to national identity that behavior shown on the sports field represented our strength as individuals, and as nations. Sir Henry Newbolt’s 1892 Vitae Lampada is one of the best examples of this connection, and likens the resolve of cricketers to the hardiness needed in war: There's a breathless hush in the Close to-night -- Ten to make and the match to win -- A bumping pitch and a blinding light, An hour to play and the last man in. And it's not for the sake of a ribboned coat, Or the selfish hope of a season's fame, But his Captain's hand on his shoulder smote "Play up! play up! and play the game!" The sand of the desert is sodden red, -- Red with the wreck of a square that broke; -- The Gatling's jammed and the colonel dead, And the regiment blind with dust and smoke. The river of death has brimmed his banks, And England's far, and Honour a name, But the voice of schoolboy rallies the ranks, "Play up! play up! and play the game!" This is the word that year by year While in her place the School is set Every one of her sons must hear, And none that hears it dare forget. This they all with a joyful mind Bear through life like a torch in flame, And falling fling to the host behind -- "Play up! play up! and play the game!" So, as young men battle through hardship, they are reminded of their experiences on the sports field. The lessons learned through sport help them to struggle on, and motivate them to rally for a cause. And just as the Victorians extracted the power of sport to suit their needs, we must do the same today. We must re-imagine Vitae Lampada, using the power of sport to inspire a generation to rally for a cause - this time not for imperialist gain, but rather to surmount the challenges of 2016. To encourage healthy living, to promote a tolerant society, to cultivate compassionate and engaged citizens, to nurture authentic altruism. To unleash a true athlete spirit, that bears through life like a torch in flame, and which no-one dares to forget. But how do we re-imagine Vitae Lampada? How do we create a new sporting spirit which provides meaningful life mantras as memorable as "Play up, play up and play the game"? True Athlete Project's Answer 1) Embrace sport's moral dimension. Who we are on the field of play is who we are, period. We must not shirk from the challenge of being moral, even in the midsts of battle, while we strain every nerve and sinew. The same goes for parents, coaches, and fans. We must call out the parent screaming at their child's referee, the PE teacher unbending to individual difference, and the supporter releasing their pent-up anger on a Saturday afternoon. They are corrupting sport and it's inexcusable. Sport belongs to all of us and when it is corrupted we lose the world's greatest uniting force. The lifeblood of all our programs is the true athlete spirit - a spirit which recognizes sport as a tool for self-mastery, which sees the big picture, and which aims to give every single person a transcendent experience through sport. We advocate for an enjoyable, inspiring and meaningful approach to sport and we promote this approach through institutions like the Muhammad Ali Center, the United Nations, the American Psychological Association, schools, universities, and more. We partner with coaches and organizations who share our philosophy in order to create innovative programs that aim to change the world. Have an idea? Get in touch! 2) Develop coaches who care. We need coaches who are mindful of every interaction with their athletes, and who are ready to teach life lessons over technique or tactics. We need athletes to receive meaningful experiences. Get the experience right, and a positive spiral of participation, enjoyment and improvement follows. Coaches create experiences. We believe coaches are the people best placed in society to transform lives so we provide coach workshops, packed with take-aways, exercises and resources to promote this quality of experience for their athletes. We help coaches to unleash the true athlete spirit within each of their athletes. Coaches care deeply, and with our help can become even more skillful at changing the world through sport. 3) Make mindfulness a routine. Most athletes wouldn't dream of neglecting a physical warm-up or cool-down, or skipping a set of sprints. But how many athletes commit to their mental skills training in the same, regimented way? Coaches must shift their emphasis toward the mental components of being an athlete. Emphasize determination, concentration, compassion, composure in the face of adversity, bravery, coachability, flexible thinking and problem solving. These are the qualities which, if developed, will help us to unleash sport's power into the world. Coincidentally these things also improve performance! Unfortunately it is not as easy as simply telling athletes to be composed, determined, or concentrated. These attributes must be skillfully developed and we believe mindfulness is the perfect tool to help us do that.. Learning to control the breath, to calm the mind, and to be so rooted in the present moment that we naturally focus on the process rather than the outcome - this is the foundation of blossoming through sport. We offer mindfulness for athletes classes, and a new curriculum for teams and schools called Mindfulness Sports Performance Enhancement, developed by our very own director of science and research, Dr. Keith Kaufman, and his colleagues, Dr. Carol Glass and Dr. Tim Pineau of Catholic University of America. 4) Create safe spaces for expression. Sport is a physical, emotional and spiritual act. When we try our hardest, we are vulnerable, we shed our layers and expose our true spirit, allowing growth to take place. This is how sport becomes transformational. We lose ourselves, our thoughts and our worries, and we become one with the present moment. This expressive, emotional act should be nurtured and respected as such. We must create an environment where individuals can experience the richness of being an athlete. We help teams and schools to create this environment, and we provide transformational retreats for all athletes and coaches, no matter their ability. During these retreats, we mix physical training with meditations, creative expression, fellowship and delicious nutrition! A wholesome experience to develop wholesome athletes. Contact our director of retreats and sustainability, Vanessa Chakour, for more information. 5) Encourage mentorship. The experience of sport must gift an enduring spirit and lifelong lessons to its players. Lessons are never remembered better than when taught by someone we admire. Lonnie Ali said, “Mentors are gifts to the world. They encourage, motivate, reinforce, and guide others to reach individual greatness.” The Muhammad Ali Center says, “From apprenticeships to elder circles, intentional relationships have always been important in generational knowledge transfer for a society." Our mentoring program gives elite athletes an opportunity to "give back" and helps aspiring athletes by providing a support network, an individualized plan of action, and an inspirational friendship for life. Reach out to our athlete mentoring and individualized training director, Pam Boteler, if you wish to be a mentor or mentee, or know someone who would! Follow these steps and we can unleash a true athlete spirit out into the world. Follow these steps and we can inspire a generation to rally for a cause, using the lessons from sport to promote a better world. And maybe one day, with a marathon effort, the Olympic Games will become a true reflection of sport and society, not a happy diversion from its actual condition. Or, as Robin Williams narrated for the International Olympic Committee's Celebrate Humanity campaign in 2000: They gather together, thousands and thousands and thousands still more, For 16 straight days the stadiums roar, They line all the fields, They polish the courts, A rainbow of colors, Together for sport, They sprint, they jostle, they jump. they shout, They sometimes get hostile but they work it all out, They smile, they laugh, they learn life’s lessons, They respect one another regardless of weapons, The big and the small together seem awkward, But amazingly enough they push the world forwards, And when it’s all over it’s as good as it gets, A lifetime of memories with zero regrets, Then they pack up the balls and roll up the mats, Put on their best suits and the finest of hats, They all wave goodbye, They hug and they kiss, And you think Maybe, just maybe, it can all be like this.  Sam Parfitt - True Athlete Project Founder & CEO
P.S. As a non-profit organization, we can only change lives with a little bit of help, and every little bit of help is so greatly appreciated. We would be wonderfully grateful if you would consider a tax-exempt donation today and help us move closer to our fundraising target. |
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The True Athlete Project is formed of two independent legal entities: The True Athlete Project (US), which is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organisation under US federal tax guidelines, and The True Athlete Project Ltd (UK), which is a UK charity, registration number: 1198569.
The UK entity and the US entity serve to strengthen one another but have distinct strategies and are independent of one another. The True Athlete Project (US): Tax ID: 81-1063080 The True Athlete Project Ltd. Companies House No: 12416150 © Copyright 2024. The True Athlete Project. All rights reserved. |