Sport Between the Ears

Stress

The Dark Side of Sports Analytics

David Udelf Psy.D. on April 22, 2024

Analytics in sports training has led to athletes obsessed with achieving performance numbers. Learn how such approaches are contributing to emotional stress and serious injuries.

Analytics in sports training has led to athletes obsessed with achieving performance numbers. Learn how such approaches are contributing to emotional stress and serious injuries.

Sport and Competition

Emotional Clinging and Its Detrimental Impact on Athletes

David Udelf Psy.D. on March 31, 2024

Pleasant emotions, such as excitement and joy, can get in the way of peak athletic performance. Learn about "emotional clinging" and what can be done to prevent it.

Pleasant emotions, such as excitement and joy, can get in the way of peak athletic performance. Learn about "emotional clinging" and what can be done to prevent it.

Leadership

How Molding Character in Childhood Forges Adult Leadership

David Udelf Psy.D. on March 22, 2024

Learn how cultivating childhood unselfishness, integrity, humility, education, and a sense of humor led to being the acting secretary of the U.S. Navy.

Learn how cultivating childhood unselfishness, integrity, humility, education, and a sense of humor led to being the acting secretary of the U.S. Navy.

Attention

Achieving Effective Action, Concentration, and Effort

David Udelf Psy.D. on February 25, 2024

Unwanted thoughts and emotions are normal human experiences. Learn how athletes and other performers live with that inside "noise" without letting it disrupt their behavior.

Unwanted thoughts and emotions are normal human experiences. Learn how athletes and other performers live with that inside "noise" without letting it disrupt their behavior.

Sport and Competition

Learn What We Control and Don't Control in Sports

David Udelf Psy.D. on February 2, 2024

"Control the controllable" is a popular sports adage. Discover what it means, its application, and its critical importance for optimal athletic performance.

"Control the controllable" is a popular sports adage. Discover what it means, its application, and its critical importance for optimal athletic performance.

Sport and Competition

How Expectations Can Lead to Frustration and Misery in Sports

David Udelf Psy.D. on December 26, 2023

High expectations can lead to an inferior performance, suffering, and burnout. Athletes must focus on executing the skills necessary for the task at hand.

High expectations can lead to an inferior performance, suffering, and burnout. Athletes must focus on executing the skills necessary for the task at hand.

Social Media

When Social Media Is Toxic for Young Athletes

David Udelf Psy.D. on December 3, 2023

Hear what high school, collegiate, and professional athletes say about social media and how its use has led to damaged confidence, character, and undermined team cohesion.

Hear what high school, collegiate, and professional athletes say about social media and how its use has led to damaged confidence, character, and undermined team cohesion.

Sport and Competition

How to Achieve Competitive "Beast Mode" Excellence

David Udelf Psy.D. on November 5, 2023

Wrestling and weightlifting extraordinaire Twana "The Beast" Barnett shares her training and competition expertise and wisdom. Explore her amazing approach to sports and life.

Wrestling and weightlifting extraordinaire Twana "The Beast" Barnett shares her training and competition expertise and wisdom. Explore her amazing approach to sports and life.

Resilience

Oppenheimer, Los Alamos Ranch School, and Molding Character

David Udelf Psy.D. on October 8, 2023

Today's young athletes often behave in a manner reflecting poor mental toughness and conduct. A look at the Los Alamos Ranch School teaches how to train resilience and character.

Today's young athletes often behave in a manner reflecting poor mental toughness and conduct. A look at the Los Alamos Ranch School teaches how to train resilience and character.

Sport and Competition

Overcoming Sports Failures

David Udelf Psy.D. on July 31, 2023

A willingness to fail in sports allows athletes to bounce back from mistakes. Acceptance and commitment training can assist in achieving this skill.

A willingness to fail in sports allows athletes to bounce back from mistakes. Acceptance and commitment training can assist in achieving this skill.

Sport and Competition

Traversing the Youth Sports Injury Landscape

David Udelf Psy.D. on June 25, 2023

Injury is often part of the youth sports experience. Learn how to minimize overuse injuries and how to best assist young athletes in the recovery process after an injury.

Injury is often part of the youth sports experience. Learn how to minimize overuse injuries and how to best assist young athletes in the recovery process after an injury.

Stress

How Adult Temper Tantrums Distract Young Athletes

David Udelf Psy.D. on May 28, 2023

Sports and performance-related youth activities can be stressful and anxiety-provoking for young people. Explore the importance of coach and parental composure at these events.

Sports and performance-related youth activities can be stressful and anxiety-provoking for young people. Explore the importance of coach and parental composure at these events.

Sport and Competition

Injury: The Inevitable Misfortune of the Athlete's Journey

David Udelf Psy.D. on April 17, 2023

Mental recovery is a significant part of the injury rehabilitation process. Learn how bad circumstances can forge psychological flexibility and lead to positive life changes.

Mental recovery is a significant part of the injury rehabilitation process. Learn how bad circumstances can forge psychological flexibility and lead to positive life changes.

Stress

Making the Team: Helpful Hints for Your Next Sports Tryout

David Udelf Psy.D. on March 12, 2023

A Personal Perspective: Sports team auditions are as pleasant as taxes and visits from annoying relatives. Be prepared for the tryout with these suggestions.

A Personal Perspective: Sports team auditions are as pleasant as taxes and visits from annoying relatives. Be prepared for the tryout with these suggestions.

Stress

Just Let the Kids Play and Have Fun

David Udelf Psy.D. on February 12, 2023

Overzealous parents and coaches ruin kids' experience with sports. Learn how the misuse of performance research and "the 10,000-Hour Rule" lead to a destructive path.

Overzealous parents and coaches ruin kids' experience with sports. Learn how the misuse of performance research and "the 10,000-Hour Rule" lead to a destructive path.

Adolescence

More Roots of Success: Focus, Respect, Unselfishness

David Udelf Psy.D. on November 28, 2022

What can teenagers teach us about leadership and success? A lot with careful observation. Learn what qualities a prominent business leader, TV star, and surgeon exhibited as youth athletes.

What can teenagers teach us about leadership and success? A lot with careful observation. Learn what qualities a prominent business leader, TV star, and surgeon exhibited as youth athletes.

Career

The Roots of Success: Humility, Curiosity, Purpose

David Udelf Psy.D. on September 24, 2022

Successful people often display an approach to sports and life at a surprisingly youthful age that sets them apart from their peers. Learn about those observable qualities.

Successful people often display an approach to sports and life at a surprisingly youthful age that sets them apart from their peers. Learn about those observable qualities.

Psychology

Modern Sport Psychology Meets Ancient Philosophy

David Udelf Psy.D. on July 9, 2022

Discover the common ground of Stoicism, sports psychology, and Acceptance and Commitment Training (ACT). Stoic thought is the secret sauce of Bill Belichick and Nick Saban.

Discover the common ground of Stoicism, sports psychology, and Acceptance and Commitment Training (ACT). Stoic thought is the secret sauce of Bill Belichick and Nick Saban.

Motivation

When the Going Gets Tough, the Tough Activate

David Udelf Psy.D. on May 22, 2022

"Trust the process" isn't just a go-to phrase athletes throw out to appease the media and fans. It's a disciplined approach they train to achieve their desired results.

"Trust the process" isn't just a go-to phrase athletes throw out to appease the media and fans. It's a disciplined approach they train to achieve their desired results.

Leadership

Calm, Clear-Headed, and Humble Win for Leaders and Coaches

David Udelf Psy.D. on April 10, 2022

What a Roman emperor, behavioral psychologist, and World War II hero teach about effective leadership in hazardous industries, sports, parenting, and other stressful situations.

What a Roman emperor, behavioral psychologist, and World War II hero teach about effective leadership in hazardous industries, sports, parenting, and other stressful situations.