Mind Games

A fascinating insight into the psychology behind elite-level sports.

Mind Games discusses concepts used in sports psychology in a way that is understandable to the watching public, sports fans, and sports-haters alike. Annie Vernon draws on her own experiences as an Olympic medalist, interviews with a wide range of people from other sports, and input from experts to answer the question: What is it about our psyche that makes pushing the mind and body to their limits such a basic human desire?

Annie speaks to athletes from a broad spectrum of sports around the globe, including basketball's Shane Battier and John Starks, NFL star Ryan Fitzpatrick, fencer Tim Morehouse, and baseball's Craig Breslow and Tino Martinez, tennis's Judy Murray, polar explorer Ben Saunders, triathlete Chrissie Wellington, skeleton-bob star Lizzy Yarnold, runner Jo Pavey and sailor Ben Ainslie, along with coaches and sports psychologists from both Olympic sports and their professional equivalents.

Whether it be performing under pressure, coping with nerves, teamwork, or building self-belief in the face of adversity, the methods that elite sports-people use are also relevant to everyday life. But sports psychology is still regarded as something of a mystery. How exactly do elite sports performers harness the power of their mind in pursuit of physical perfection?

After looking closely at areas such as motivation, competitiveness, gender, and teamwork, Annie Vernon uncovers the underlying psychological principles behind the sports that everyone enjoys.

O perspectiva fascinanta asupra psihologiei din spatele sportului la nivel de elita. Mind Games discuta conceptele utilizate in psihologia sportului intr-un mod usor de inteles de publicul care urmareste, de fanii sportului si de cei care urasc sportul. Annie Vernon se bazeaza pe propriile experiente de medaliat olimpic, pe interviuri cu o gama larga de oameni din alte sporturi si pe contributia expertilor pentru a raspunde la intrebarea: Ce este psihicul nostru care face sa impingem mintea si corpul la limitele lor dorinta umana de baza? Annie vorbeste sportivilor dintr-un spectru larg de sporturi din intreaga lume, inclusiv baschetul Shane Battier si John Starks, vedeta NFL Ryan Fitzpatrick, scrimarul Tim Morehouse si Craig Breslow si Tino Martinez de baseball, tenisul Judy Murray, exploratorul polar Ben Saunders, triatleta Chrissie Wellington, vedeta scheletului Lizzy Yarnold, alergatorul Jo Pavey si marinarul Ben Ainslie, impreuna cu antrenori si psihologi sportivi din ambele sporturi olimpice si echivalentii lor profesionisti. Fie ca este vorba de performante sub presiune, pentru a face fata nervilor, a muncii in echipa sau construind credinta de sine in fata adversitatii, metodele pe care le folosesc sportivii de elita sunt, de asemenea, relevante pentru viata de zi cu zi.