Mental Toolbox: Achieving Success Through Mental Excellence

From USA Swimming

 How Do You Build a Staircase?

Have you ever tried to build something out of wood? Imagine a carpenter preparing for a challenging new project such as building a staircase in a house. First the carpenter would make sure she has the blueprints for the job. Next she would call the lumber store and order the necessary lumber and building supplies. Finally she would gather together all of the essential tools for the job then commence with the project. Can you imagine a carpenter trying to build a staircase with only a screwdriver? In sport, we are making a similar mistake if all the tools necessary for success are not "on hand".

Season after season swimmers spend time at the pool working on their strokes, swimming lap after lap, doing drylands and lifting weights. It is often the case, however, that the mind is not trained along with the body.

This season it may be beneficial to start using the Mental Toolbox to help develop mental skills. The Mental Toolbox is designed as a resource for coaches, swimmers and parents. The information included in the upcoming chapters should be both a useful, practical tool for coaches, parents and swimmers who are training and competing at the club, regional, national and international level.

Included in each edition of the Mental Toolbox will be educational information related to the given skill, basic teaching instructions, and exercises/ handouts to help develop these skills, and a guide for coaches.

For more of the Mental Toolbox go to the USA Swimming website under Coaches, then Psychology or go to: http://www.usaswimming.org/USASWeb/DesktopDefault.aspx?TabId=470&Alias=Rainbow&Lang=en

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