By David Smith “Everybody has a plan until they get punched in the face.” – Mike Tyson This famous quote really hit me hard, not as hard as a punch in the face but almost so when it comes to the very foundation of what we consider “performance” within sport. Athletes will spend hours upon … Continue reading Improvise Your Way to High Performance in Sport and Life
Standard of Expectation, Culture of Performance, and the Wednesday Problem
By David Smith, M.Sc., CSCS., SDL (He/Him) One of my first real applicable experiences in infusing sport psychology with coaching started well before I became involved at all. That is, I was coaching one weekly session for the large adult master’s inclusive swim team that was focused on technical skill development and conditioning. This group … Continue reading Standard of Expectation, Culture of Performance, and the Wednesday Problem
In the Office or Out on the Field? The Identity Conflict of Mental Performance Coaching and Clinical Sport Psychology Toward Athletic Development
By David Smith, M.Sc., CSCS., SDL (He/Him) Applied sport psychology is facing quite the identity crisis. On one hand, it struggles with the perception and stereotype that an athlete only sees a sport psychologist to “fix” a problem they have. Any and every sport psychology practitioner will tell you that applied sport psych is much … Continue reading In the Office or Out on the Field? The Identity Conflict of Mental Performance Coaching and Clinical Sport Psychology Toward Athletic Development
Diversification of Training and Experience Develops Robust, Resilient, and Tactically Creative Athletes
By David Smith, M.Sc., CSCS., SDL (He/Him) The vilification of words like “diversity” represent a socio-political shift within our society toward a more convergent hegemonic perspective. It is in this evolution that the diversity of peoples who do not subscribe to this hegemonic perspective find themselves at equal vilification. However, when it comes to “diversity”, … Continue reading Diversification of Training and Experience Develops Robust, Resilient, and Tactically Creative Athletes
Mansplaining a Class on Women in Sports: My Reflections on Teaching and Learning in Honor of International Women’s Day and Women’s History Month
By David Smith, M.Sc., CSCS., SDL (He/Him) “I am certainly competent, capable, and willing, but I need to ask… are you sure you want me as a cisgender white male to teach a class on women in sports?” Was the first question I asked when I took on my faculty teaching role at the State … Continue reading Mansplaining a Class on Women in Sports: My Reflections on Teaching and Learning in Honor of International Women’s Day and Women’s History Month
Praise: Despite Good Intentions, How Much is too Much?
By David Smith, M.Sc., CSCS., SDL (He/Him) Praise is often used with best intentions. After all, who doesn't love some positive reeforcement with a pat on the back and a "good job!" when you do something well. Just like anything else, too much praise can turn into a bad thing and have the opposite of … Continue reading Praise: Despite Good Intentions, How Much is too Much?
Unlock Your Potential: The Benefits of Mental Performance Coaching Athletes, Artists, and Performers of All Kind
By David Smith, M.Sc., CSCS., SDL (He/Him) Within my professional practice as a sport psychology practitioner, strength & conditioning, and mental performance coach, I find that most people generally have two perceptions about the services I offer. “I don’t need to see a psychologist, I’m not sick/ there is nothing wrong with me.” “That sounds … Continue reading Unlock Your Potential: The Benefits of Mental Performance Coaching Athletes, Artists, and Performers of All Kind
We’ve Got Spirit, Yes We Do!: Influence of the Audience Effect on Athletic Performance
By David Smith, M.Sc., CSCS., SDL (He/Him) Photo Credit: Cheer San Francisco Growing up in the USA, my education journey through school and university always had a mark for school spirit and identity shaped by a school mascot and colors. We had fight songs, cheers, chants, traditions like homecoming and such. Much of it wrapped … Continue reading We’ve Got Spirit, Yes We Do!: Influence of the Audience Effect on Athletic Performance
Game Theory in Sports: Lessons from the Battle of the Sexes
By David Smith, M.Sc., CSCS., SDL (He/Him) In my “Women in Sports” class, we recently had a presentation and discussion on Billie Jean King and the famous “Battle of the Sexes” tennis match between her and Bobby Riggs. In short, as a retired tennis pro, middle age, self-proclaimed “male chauvinist pig” challenged Billie Jean King, … Continue reading Game Theory in Sports: Lessons from the Battle of the Sexes
Scales of Goals: A Cyclical Periodization Approach to Goal Setting and Maintaining Accountability
By David Smith, M.Sc., CSCS., SDL (He/Him) There is no love loss for goal setting in the field of sport and exercise psychology. Even further, the entire foundation of sport and exercise, as a field of science and as a multi-billion-dollar industry is all about setting goals. From weight loss goals to achieving medals, establishing … Continue reading Scales of Goals: A Cyclical Periodization Approach to Goal Setting and Maintaining Accountability
stonewallperformance.com 