Resources
Why Focus on Mental Skills Training?
Learn how mental skills training can help your soccer player improve their decision-making performance and score more goals. To sign up for the full course, click here!
Score Big on Exams with Sport Psychology: How to Manage Test Anxiety
Test anxiety is a common problem among students, especially when they are faced with high-stakes exams like college entrance exams, final exams, or standardized tests. It can be difficult to manage the stress and pressure that come with these exams, and many students...
A Simple Routine to Build Confidence
For a more structured WELL, click here to purchase to full workbook, which includes additional activities that you can complete with your player to help build confidence!
I Feel Lost Without My Sport
How to Cope with COVID-19 Sports Cancellations Many are feeling a great deal of loss in response to COVID-19 sports cancellations and restrictions. And anytime you experience a significant loss in your life, it is important to be aware of your emotions and manage them...
The “Mental” Game; How to Train Your Brain for Success
The Mental Game It is undeniable that there is a major “mental” component to competitive sports, but what does that really mean? And better yet, how can you improve your players' “mental” game? It is widely accepted to break down sports into four distinct areas –...
“I think too much;” The Detriment of Being Labeled as an Overthinker
Have you ever been told that you think too much? Or feel anxious because you can’t seem to stay focused during a competition? As a competitive athlete, you may already know the value of staying in the moment. Knowing this, however, doesn’t make the task any...
Have Your Ever Celebrated Too Early?
Have you ever had the experience where you feel so good about your performance that you start celebrating in your head, thinking, ‘I’ve got this in the bag!’ . . . but then all of the sudden your opponent starts to rally and you end up losing? When you experience...
The Value of a Sport Psychologist for the iGeneration
It is no secret that the competitive sport environment demands a great deal of mental toughness, yet so many players fail to enlist a professional sport psychologist. Instead, they rely on personal experience and the advice of those around them, which can be...
Sport Psychology is the Missing Piece to Success; An Intimate Account from a D1 Athlete
by Rhian Cleverly, Senior Captain of Hofstra Women's Soccer Background: Eight months ago I was extremely lucky to be given an internship opportunity with Ferranti Empowerment. At the time I was so excited to get my first taste of a career in Sport Psychology. Not...
How to Effectively Be ‘The Best’
In both my athletic and professional career I recognize that I share a strong sentiment with my clients – I want to be the ‘best.’ Although highly motivated by this desire I have found that it is paradoxically one of my greatest sources of frustration,...
Insight on Mental Skills Training
Amanda Ferranti knows that your brain is your tool and that you can learn the skills you need to empower yourself. Amanda works with youth athletes in sports, but her lessons of empowerment apply to every aspect of life. Listen to the Chasing Insight podcast to hear...
It’s Okay to Feel Disappointed
Fear of failure is a very paralyzing state of mind – it will peak its head after every little mistake, it will disrupt the decision making process, and eliminate the necessary level of risk needed to compete. Most athletes rationally can identify this fear and know...
Turn Your Fear to Determination
My heart started pounding and I felt a rush of blood pulse through my body. In a blink of an eye my breathing became difficult, my stomach hollowed, and my thoughts turned into rapid fireworks. I was consumed by a mix of fear, anger, anxiety, and disappointment....
How I Get in My Own Way
Like many of my clients I want outcomes – I want evidence that tells me that what I am doing and what I am working for is worth it. Although a natural way of thinking, when we pay too much attention to outcomes - or do the work for the intention of getting an...
Emotional Rehab; What They Don't Tell You About ACL Recovery
For some people sports are a hobby. Yet, for me, I began my soccer career at 3 years old and immediately fell in love. At the start of my journey I was unclear of what connected me to the game, but as the years progressed I learned that not many things in my life...
Self-Trust is the Key to Effective Decisions
As discussed in my previous post, decision-making skills can – and must – be developed to compete at a higher level. In order to do so, athletes must be aware of both internal and external distractions and learn strategies to gain information, stay in the moment, and...
Master the Psychology of Decision Making
When I work with athletes ages 12-18 the conversation is often about the psychology of decision-making. At that age, children are newly capable of thinking hypothetically and are learning to use logical reasoning to solve problems. So instead of focusing on skills,...
Don’t Think of a White Elephant
The White Elephant Red Flag One of the most common red flags that I see as a mental skills consultant is when I ask an athlete “what do you truly want” and they respond with “I don’t want…" When I hear this response – and it happens often – I stop the athlete...
Coaching Generation Z
Coaching Generation Z Currently, we live in a culture entranced by social media and technology. As a result, we are seeing athletes thwarted in emotional development, specifically in their ability to cooperate, empathize, and resolve conflicts. With that said, we need...
Athletes, Social Media, & Emotional Intelligence; Why Coaches Should Care
When working with soccer coaches, both at the youth and collegiate level, I hear of similar complaints: I have no real leaders, players think everything is unfair, and they need a prize or praise for motivation. After much thought and research in trying to find a...
The Psychology of Decision Making
Part 3: How to Make Quick and Effective Decisions Have you ever had to yell, “Quicker decisions,” “Know what you’re doing before you get the ball,” or “Play with pace.” These are common phrases used by coaches that target a player’s tactical knowledge of the game,...