By David Smith, M.Sc., CSCS., SDL (He/Him) + Art by Bandcamp Exercise Psychology co-exists as a separate by complementary component within our field of Sport Psychology. However, unlike sport psychology, exercise psychology focuses less on performance and more on motivation to develop and maintain consistent exercise and physical activity behaviors. Furthermoe, exercise psychology works more … Continue reading Exercise Gaming as a Mental Health Intervention, Exercise Psychology and Dance Dance Revolution
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
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
Coaching Sport Psychology + Strength and Conditioning: Perceived Focus as a Driver for Athlete Buy In and Performance Output
By David Smith, M.Sc., SDL (He/Him)Both Strength and Conditioning as well as Sport Psychology, as fundamental components of athletic development, are still struggling to find their footing in sport. While any athlete and coach, especially at the elite level will tell you, the “mental” aspect of performance is the key to achieving success. Despite this, … Continue reading Coaching Sport Psychology + Strength and Conditioning: Perceived Focus as a Driver for Athlete Buy In and Performance Output
One Week, 20 Students in a Small German Town and a Big Finish – My First Experience Teaching with the Studienstiftung
As part of my graduate school goals and pursuits has been to gain valuable teaching experience at the college level in order for me to be better prepared for a career in collegiate teaching and academia upon graduating. This has been easier said than done as I’ve overcome various challenges and barriers to achieve the … Continue reading One Week, 20 Students in a Small German Town and a Big Finish – My First Experience Teaching with the Studienstiftung
Fit for Fat, My Story of Ü100 and Creating One of the Only Fitness Classes Specifically for Larger People
By David “Dirk” Smith, M.Sc., SDL (He/Him) It is well established that the fitness industry is obsessed with weight loss and aesthetics when it comes to marketing fitness and exercise for people. The pervasiveness of fitness and diet culture has become an obsession in our modern society where a person’s physical appearance is often subject … Continue reading Fit for Fat, My Story of Ü100 and Creating One of the Only Fitness Classes Specifically for Larger People
Athletic Development as a Complex Adaptive System
By Dirk Smith, M.Sc, SDL (He/Him) My recent article on the four the four pillars of athletic development talks about how building successful athletes and a team are rooted in the different skills and competencies of mental, physical, tactical, and technical conditioning within sport. During my time with the soccer team, as the team’s strength … Continue reading Athletic Development as a Complex Adaptive System
Building Power for Endurance and Endurance for Power
By Dirk Smith, M.Sc, SDL (He/Him) At first glance, the title sounds contradictory, as any coach, athlete or experienced gym goer might know, power and endurance are not exactly synonymous with each other. In certain sports, most notably swimming which inspired this article, but also cycling, wrestling, gymnastics, speed skating, and rowing having power and … Continue reading Building Power for Endurance and Endurance for Power
Sport and Performance: Building a Relationship with Your Audience
There are many “performance” sports in which the sport itself built upon the measure of success based on judgement from a panel of professionals with in depth knowledge of the sport and its rules. These sports, such as ice skating, gymnastics, cheerleading, dancing, and others often attract an audience who come to see the show … Continue reading Sport and Performance: Building a Relationship with Your Audience
Emotional Regulation Strategies for Endurance Sport Athletes
Endurance sports are some of the most challenging and brutal physical activities that humans can take part in. Yet, for these same reasons they also endure as one of the most popular challenges that people take on. From the elite level all the way to the beginner, endurance sports include events like marathon running, open … Continue reading Emotional Regulation Strategies for Endurance Sport Athletes
