Rutgers University Sport Psychology Program
The greatest opponent may be your self

PSYCHOLOGICAL CHALLENGES OF ATHLETIC COMPETITION

Based on the range of mental and emotional factors that may influence performance, each and every Rutgers student-athlete is faced with some basic psychological challenges.

These challenges have to do with one's role, the nature and scope of their sport, and the competitive process.

Psychological challenges faced by the student-athlete include, but are not limited to, the following:

(a) Balancing sport effectively with academics and other aspects of life;
(b) Preparing mentally, emotionally, physically, and technically for competition;
(c) Maintaining a focus on the process of competing;
(d) Performing in challenging and otherwise pressure situations
(e) Being an accurate self evaluator of one’s performance

These basic psychological challenges exist not only for the individual Rutgers student-athlete, but also for Rutgers teams as well.

If these challenges are real for student-athletes --- and they indeed appear to be real if one is honest ----, then what are proven programs, services, and procedures that can be used by student-athletes to help them address and surmount these matters?

How can Rutgers student-athletes embrace and not deny or fear the mental side of their sport and actually use the mental side as leverage for effective performance?

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