Fostering the Whole Athlete

How MAC Volleyball Incorporates Mental Training Into a Competitive Program

Anyone who has ever participated in a competitive sport knows that there is more that is required of the mind and body than just the physical performance of the sport. To be serious about competitive sports is to realize that progress is a marathon, not a sprint; this is why it’s crucial that there is recognition and support for the mental requirements of sport, too.

Mental training and sports psychology are being more recognized throughout competitive sports, as coaches, athletes, and parents have seen the benefits of this type of training. There are many sports psychologists that specialize in working with teams throughout their seasons to help keep their mind and emotions in check, especially as their bodies start to exhaust. Mental training can be used to improve confidence, focus, selfbelief, and motivation — all things that are crucial to athletic performance.

Mental training in sports also exercises the mind so that athletes are learning tools and strategies to prepare for life’s uncontrollables while also striving to perform at their best. Proper mental training will propel young athletes into dealing with adversity and challenges, even after they are done playing competitive sports.

MAC Volleyball Coach Quin Kloppenburg takes mental training very seriously with her team. Kloppenburg currently coaches the 12 Elite team at MAC and is a huge advocate for proper mental training for athletes. No matter what, her team always starts the first 10 minutes of their practice with a group checkin, where they review inspirational quotes, videos, or books together and talk about the meaning behind the messages. Once they’ve discussed, they each spend some time writing in their journals. The kids are able to see their own thought processes throughout the season, and it creates a great opportunity for reflection and growth. Kloppenburg’s ultimate goal in providing this team check-in time is to create a space where the kids feel autonomy, support, inclusiveness, and safety. “They buy in to their team so much more when they feel like they have a say or something to give,” explains Kloppenburg. “It’s really important for young athletes to have this time to mentally and emotionally shift from whatever just happened during the rest of their day, before they transition into training time. It’s a time to respond and mentally reset,” she says.

So how does a coach decide what approach to take to mental training or what their team might need? Coaches can identify what their team might need by asking some questions about their team’s performance:

• Are they having a hard time fighting through failure?

• Are they showing fear over failure and not being perfect?

• Are they lacking drive and goal setting?

Perhaps one of the most important lessons of mental training that many athletes overlook is learning how to fail. No one enjoys failing at anything, but it’s a reality that all athletes have to face. It’s also a lesson that carries on for life. Sometimes it’s not about winning or losing but how athletes respond to both scenarios. How will someone respond to losing the biggest game of their life? How will they respond to not getting the job they apply for or being accepted into their dream school? Knowing how to fail properly and respond to failure are both huge indicators of an individual’s future success.

Interested in learning more about how to optimize mental and physical training? Kloppenburg recommends these books to athletes and parents of athletes who want to dive deeper: