This may feel permanent, but we can turn things around.
Helping Athletes overcome the Yips
In Frisco, TX and Plano, TX
Have you experienced a sudden drop in performance?
Are you asking yourself, am I in a slump? Am I choking under pressure? Do I have the yips?
You're a very talented player who has performed well in the past. You're committed to your sport and pride yourself on your big performances. When this first happened, you shook it off, or so you thought. But something has been lingering with you since the start of this slump. You can't seem to get out of this funk. It's the same situation, the same shot, or the same skill each time that sets you off. Your performance just crumbles. It might even feel like you body is hijacked in the moment the mistake occurs. Your movements might seem jerky or sudden rather than flow like they usually do.
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Suddenly you're in your head. You're thinking about this same mistake over and over. It keeps repeating and you're wanting so badly for the mistake to not keep happening. You’re wishing to not mess up but then it just happens again. You've tried everything to resolve this but nothing seems to make the difference. You feel like you've lost your identity as a player and you fear what you could lose next. You worry about your role on the team or if your teammates and coaches will trust you again. You're terrified by the thought that you may never play as good as once you did.
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Assess the Problem
Evaluate if your recent change in performance can be attributed to a physical skill or technical adjustment..
Simplify your Thinking
Develop focus cues that will limit your overthinking.
Back to Basics
Focus on what made you successful in the first place
Big Picture
Remember the big picture, this is a temporary detour on your path to playing your best.
Coaching for the yips can help you:
Reestablish the skills that got you this far.
Regain your confidence in your abilities
Pause the overthinking
Raise awareness of your mechanics
Gain perspective
This problem is temporary and it too shall pass. Let's work on solutions that are permanent.
FAQs
Q: What are the yips?
A: The yips which may have different names in different sport contexts represents a phenomenon where a decline in performance occurs during high pressure circumstances. Motor control is often affected resulting in a change in the mechanics of movement. This is also characterized by an increase in an internally directed focus that disrupts an athlete's attentional control. During the yips or when choking in sports your focus is in the wrong place and it will feel like your body is betraying you when you aren't able to execute movements that you can do in lower pressure circumstances.
Q:What are mental performance coaching sessions like?
A: Coaching sessions are 30-60 minutes. It will feel like we are having a discussion about you. At times it may seem like a classroom while you're learning new skills. But it will always come back to a conversation about you.
Q: How long do I need to be in coaching?
A: Coaching sessions are a proactive resource to support high performing individuals. You may see progress quickly in a few sessions but it may also come over a longer period of time. If you're thinking about making a change then we would begin by working together to create a plan for how you will achieve your desired result. You will take action on the plan we've created and we'll work on any roadblocks or setbacks you encounter. After a maintenance period where you've applied changes to your life we will then decide to end our sessions. You will always be welcomed back if you need to revisit our work together or if you encounter a new challenge that you'd like to work on.
Q: How do I know if this is working for me?
A: The best way to know if this is working, is for you to notice yourself in the moment thinking or behaving in the way that you'd like to change. Awareness of ourselves making a mistake precedes the actual behavior change that replaces the mistake. You may say to yourself ""oh no! I'm making that mistake again."" Don't beat yourself up. You're making progress in doing the work by identifying the unhelpful thinking. This is a sign that change is on the horizon.
Q: How often will we meet?
A: Frequency of sessions is determined by each individual's schedule and season. However, it is consistency not frequency that will make the most impact. Meeting weekly allows for us to do the most work. Meeting bi-weekly or after competitions allows for you to build up content for us to work on.