Tanner Jensen Athlete of the Month
|
 Tanner
Jensen is a sophomore hockey player at Wayzata High School. Like
many hockey players he has played for many years. When Tanner found
himself this year looking at the possibility of not playing because
of multiple injuries he became extremely discouraged, to the point
of pondering some difficult decisions about his future in hockey. He
in many ways reached the bottom and wanted help. With the help of
his parents he sought out some coaching from the Mental Edge. After
hard work and a willingness to change, Tanner would say, "coming to
this point in his life has been a blessing in disguise". Over the
past month Tanner has rejuvenated his entire mindset and approach to
hockey as well as life. He has worked hard with the help of his
Mental Edge Performance Coach to play a smarter brand of
hockey...not simply "hurrying all over the ice" but truly thinking
and using his mind to create advantage as well as a focus that has
lead him to love the game while not beating himself up for mistakes
leading to internal self criticism that for many years stole from
him the joy of the game. Not only has Tanner turned around his
mindset for hockey, but also for academics. Like many, Tanner
procrastinated homework believing that it would just go away. Now
Tanner gets his homework done quickly because he doesn't want to
deal with the stress of knowing it is there. Tanner is truly a
student athlete that has matured and grown in the past month. If you
ask his Mom, Susan, she will tell you he is a different kid. |
|
|
|
Becky
Kortum Athlete of the Month
|
 Becky
Kortum has been a member of the Hopkins varsity hockey program since
eighth grade and has accumulated over 200 points in her high school
career. No stranger to dedication and disciplined training, Becky
took to the demands of working with her Mental Edge Performance
Coach like every other goal she has set her sight on in her life.
With great effort and diligence Becky sought to challenge herself
further by looking to take on an expanded role of leadership in the
locker room and in her school. Becky also looked for new ways to
capitalize on her talent and skill by letting go of the fear of
making an occasional mistake, which at times had an ability to
stifle her performance. With encouragement from her Mental Edge
Performance Coach you can now see Becky pulling off dazzling plays
against the state’s best opponents that were once reserved only for
her younger brother on the backyard pond. Since signing a national
letter of intent with the University of Minnesota Golden Gophers,
Becky will continue to display the full depth of her talent and
skill against the best competition in the nation.
|
|
|
|
|
Announcements
90-Day Challenge for Parents
The Mental Edge has launched a 90-day Challenge for any parent that
wants to revitalize and increase the quality of relationship with
his or her kids by being a better asker of quality questions. Each
month we will provide 5 or more quality questions to help you make
bids toward your son or daughter. Please email
Dawn@MentalEdgeNow.com
to accept the challenge!
Mental Edge Roles Out High Impact Academic
Mentoring
The Mental Edge is really excited about our New High Impact Academic
Mentoring! If your child struggles academically or simply wants to
have an edge or fine-tune a skill set, this one-on-one Academic
Mentoring will help provide him/her with the tips and strategies to
succeed! See Shannon Tilley’s article below and our Services Page
for more information on the program and Shannon’s impressive
experience as an Academic Mentor.
Mental Edge Maintenance Program
Have you mentored with the Mental Edge yet would like an opportunity
to keep in contact with your Mental Edge Coach? We are please to
announce our High Impact Maintenance Program! You can get unlimited
phone, text, and email contact with your coach on a monthly basis
for $275.00. Please call Dawn at 763-439-5246 to begin. Open to all
past mentoring clients!
Did you know
we offer complimentary 30-minute telephone
initial consultations? If
you or someone you know would like a first-hand experience of what
we are all about, simply call Dawn to schedule your no-obligation
consultation with Shaun or Justin today!
|
|
|
|
The Mental Edge is honored to become a contributor of articles and
columns for VYPE High School Sports Magazine beginning in February!
This high-quality magazine focuses on local high school sports,
athletes, coaches and families.
VYPE.com is a community network that connects athletes, coaches,
families, and fans. You'll be amazed at the quality and quantity of
information and personal options at
VYPE.com |
|
|
ATTENTION PARENTS,
ATHLETES, YOUTH, COACHES, ASSOCIATIONS!
We would like to hear your ideas....
If you have a question or idea for our next newsletter we would love
to hear it! Please click on the link below to submit you question or
idea and we'll address it in our next newsletter.
Submit your question/idea: I
HAVE AN IDEA! |
|
|
|
Maintain Perspective
Shaun Goodsell, MA
The winter sport athletes have reached the dog days of January. The
excitement present at the beginning of the season has worn off long
ago and the Christmas tournaments are a distant memory. The thought
of going to another practice is less then inspiring and getting
inspired to play another game is at times very challenging.
Unfortunately, many athletes find this to be more troubling then is
helpful. It is impossible to maintain an inspired and energetic
approach day in and day out for many months consecutively. Not only
is it difficult to do this for the Winter sports season, many have
been playing year round and go through many ups and down throughout
the year.
It is vital to understand that we go through natural times of energy
as well as natural times of lethargy. Because we lack energy does
not mean that we don’t care, have lost passion for our sport, or
have even reached burn out. It is normal to have these ups and downs
and therefore, important to maintain a healthy here and now
perspective through these emotionally tough times. In order to help
you maintain a healthy perspective I offer these thoughts:
1. Not all games are equal.
Games at the end of the season are more significant then those at
the beginning. Even though we want to bring our best effort and
performance game in and game out it is not realistic to think that
this will happen. Because of this, my encouragement would be to get
over tough losses this time of year quickly realizing no win or loss
makes or breaks you this time of year unless you let it.
2. Go easy on yourself. When we
get tired and discouraged it is easy to fall into a very critical
mindset where we put extra pressure on ourselves. In doing this we
put a huge load on ourselves only making a healthy mindset all the
more difficult.
3. Eat, sleep and rest. During
these times it is very important to eat well, sleep, and take
emotional breaks from the pressures of sport. Sometimes, when we are
not eating well and not getting sleep, life’s challenges appear
bigger then they actually are and become more overwhelming. We can
give ourselves a great gift by eating, sleeping, and resting.
4. Keep things simple. My
encouragement to you is to keep your life and your sport as simple
as possible. Try not to make any big changes, keep your performance
simple by focusing on the fundamentals of the sport and try to enjoy
the moments as they come; not getting too far ahead of yourself as
well as looking back too far on past performances. The only
performance that you can control is the one you are about to have.
Maintaining a healthy perspective on your performance and the
outcomes of your performance will help you have the necessary
inspiration to bring it during playoff time. So, over the next month
when you lack some energy or have a tough time getting inspired,
remember to be easy on yourself and do the best you can in the
moment.
To find out more about this topic and to schedule a free
telephone consultation, please call 763.439.5246.
Shaun Goodsell
President and CEO
Mental Edge |
|
|
Revealing the Impact
of Mental Imagery
Justin Johnson, Mental Edge Performance
Coach
Have you ever daydreamed about making that huge play to win the game
for your team? If you have, then you’ve experienced the use of
mental imagery. Mental imagery may well be the most important piece
of your mental toughness tool kit. By training your mind to
visualize the events of a game or practice before you actually play,
you prepare your mind and body for competition. Why does this work?
Because our minds are so powerful that when we can see actions in
our head, our body can’t tell the difference between the image in
our mind and what we’d see in a game. Mental imagery has been used
by countless numbers of elite athletes through the years. In fact, a
study of several hundred Canadian Olympic team members demonstrated
that 99 percent of them used imagery. As I speak with athletes
through out the season I get numerous questions about mental imagery
or visualization as it is also called. In this article I hope to
answers some of the most common questions about this powerful skill.
What is imagery? What should I use it for?
Mental imagery is simply creating in your head a video of your
performance. These images come from memories and can be played out
in the mind as they happened, or as pieces of other events, cut and
pasted together to create a new event. Many athletes see themselves
making perfect shots or going through the motions of a play they
would see in a game. When you see events happen in your mind before
a game, you’re body is better prepared to react to what lies ahead.
What should I see in my head?
You want to see a clear picture and be in control of whatever
situation you are visualizing. This might come easier to some than
to others, but your ability to see the image clearly and to control
what happens will improve with practice. Mental imagery is a skill
that can be learned and improved upon just like any other skill in
sports. It’s important to keep positive images in your head because
the body will most often follow the mind.
What’s the most effective vantage point to
view your scenarios?
There’s a lot of discussion and no clear answer. Some elite athletes
and quick learners see their images as though they were looking
through their own eyes outward. Many agree this point of view is
most effective for preparation. Others see images unfold as if they
were watching themselves on television or from the arena stands.
This point of view is often best used when learning new skills or
for gaining confidence. In my opinion, both are useful. Don’t shy
away from one point of view just because it doesn’t come easily.
Keep practicing until you can work with both.
Tips for Developing Your Own Program
Each athlete’s approach to mental imagery is different – and should
be. Listed below are some tips to develop your own program:
• Find a quiet place and set aside some time where you will not be
interrupted. When you first try mental imagery, distracting thoughts
will likely pop in and out of your head.
• Change the speed of your images. When you become skilled at
imagery, visualize the scenario you are in slowly. Or see a play
develop quickly, and react in a split second. By altering the speed
of your images you get focused and prepared for the sudden changes
of the game.
• Imagery is most effective when what you see is close to reality.
This means using as many of your senses in your image as possible.
Picture the layout of the environment and the color of the opposing
team’s uniforms. Feel the relaxation and confidence of your body and
the power of the movement in your body. Try to hear your teammates
talking, and the sounds of the game.
In the end if you take the time to train yourself in this skill,
just as you would weight training or other physical skills, you will
see marked improvement in numerous areas including your focus,
confidence, preparation and consistency.
To find out more about this topic and to schedule a free
telephone consultation, please call 763.439.5246.
|
|
|
Academic Resolutions
and Self Evaluation
Shannon Tilley, Mental Edge Academic Mentor
With the start of the new year often come resolutions to change ones
life. Often times, students are starting fresh and can use academic
resolutions to finish the year out strong. Many schools have wrapped
up the first half of curriculum and parents can use this as a time
to work on self-evaluation with your children. This is a
conversation where you ask your child, what worked and what didn’t
over the first half of the school year. In my experience working
with students, I have found that most students do not have strong
self-evaluation skills. Questions that you can ask to get a more
accurate picture of where your child stands could be:
• What went well in school during the first half of the year?
• Give me an example of a project or assignment that you were most
proud of?
• Why were you proud of this?
• What was your greatest struggle this first half?
• What tools can I offer to help you with this struggle?
Use the start of the second half of the year to get your child off
to a great start. The use of an organizer can allow students to not
only track assignments but also to schedule in time for friends or
even video games. By allowing them to be in control of their
schedule partially, they can feel a bit more independent.
Open communication is the key to strong self-evaluation and to
building strong students. Let your child know that you are here to
help them and that there are resources if the task in front of them
to too big to approach alone.
Shannon Tilley, Mental Edge Academic
Mentor, has experience as a learning specialist at the University of
Minnesota. There she worked primarily with the men’s hockey team but
also supported students from the football, soccer, and gymnastics
teams. Shannon is a PhD candidate in the Educational Psychology
program at the University of Minnesota with a focus on learning and
cognition. She also has experience as a department chair and
assistant professor at Brown College and has been an academic
advisor at both St. Cloud State University and Capella University. |
|
|
|
What They're
Saying about the Mental Edge “I watched
my son the last two tourneys and he has really had great focus! It's
like he was like his old self prior to going to the U when I used to
watch him as a junior. It's like my real son is back! His progress
has been fun to watch. I hope you realize I think you really helped
and he does too! Thanks so much for your time and effort. You'll
always have a place in our family’s heart.”
~ Parent
|
|
“What a difference a year can make. Last
September, as our son entered his junior year, he was working hard
but felt like he was spinning his wheels. His confidence was low and
he was second guessing himself in social situations, academics and
in hockey (on and off the ice). He was negative, confused and didn’t
think he could do anything about it. He was waiting for things to
happen and hoping for the best versus taking initiative and making
things happen. He felt unneeded pressure and was a classic victim.
As parents, we were frustrated, supportive but lacked the
perspective and training to effectively handle this situation. We
knew we needed help - someone that could uniquely connect with our
son and his issues. We wanted someone that would positively tell him
“truths” and could help him understand who he is, how he thinks and
works and give him tools for living his life.
We have to admit, when we picked up the phone to call you we were
apprehensive but figured it was worth a try. We had no idea how
profound the experience would be for him. Today, our son is more
confident and demonstrating a winning attitude. He is upbeat, an
initiator and fun to be around (usually – he is still a teenager).
He has been more positive and busy this summer – a night and day
difference from last summer. He is able to see beyond the moment,
set personal goals and be more proactive. He is often the initiator
when planning to hang out with friends or thinking about his future.
The biggest life tool however has been the ability to recognize and
reverse his self talk when he is in a slump. For example, when he
has a bad shift in hockey, he recognizes it and rather than
spiraling out of control he pulls himself out of it and can get back
on track. He can now make mistakes without becoming dysfunctional.
Another big change is - he plays for himself, not for his coaches,
us or others. He knows what he needs to do. He can listen and be
open to information and decide on the action.
It was fun to watch the process and the relationship develop between
you and our son. We don’t claim to understand it, nor do we need to
understand it because we see the results. He developed a confidence
and friendship that you clearly earned over the course of several
months. This confidence enabled him to trust and try the techniques
you were advocating. Your sessions were private. Sometimes he would
share information, mostly he didn’t.
One thing we could feel - was your passion for what you do. As
caring and involved (maybe too involved) parents, it was difficult
for us to back off, trust your process and be patient. We are glad
we did. We learned new parenting skills in the process (a bonus) –
backing off and giving up control, patience and how to be better
communicators with our teen. There is no silver bullet but your
approach is working for our kid at this time in his life. We are
grateful for your help and available to give you the highest
recommendation. Please thank Dawn as well – for her outstanding
communication and organizational skills. You make a great team!!”
~ Brad and Deb
|
|
“When we first met Justin Johnson at a State
Bantam tournament a few years ago, he talked a little bit about The
Mental Edge. I remember thinking to myself, “This is exactly what my
son needs!” My son, Nolan, was one of our team’s two goaltenders. He
had good skills, but was struggling with confidence issues and was
having difficulty dealing with adversity. Having majored in
Psychology myself, I was keenly aware of the importance of mental
preparation. On the way home from the tournament, I talked with
Nolan about The Mental Edge. Always interested in improving his
game, he was very interested in trying it out.
All of Nolan’s goaltending training has been valuable, but The
Mental Edge training has clearly been the most effective. I sat back
and watched, with amazement, as his game consistently improved and
his own satisfaction with his performance visibly increased over the
next season. He was having fun again! Consequently, I became much
more relaxed at his games. I began to enjoy break-a-ways, because I
knew he was going to make the save!
At the end of the season, Nolan received a hand-written note from
his coach congratulating him on his performance during the season.
The coach went on to say, “Your consistency and confidence improved
constantly, as did your skills.” His team members and other parents
also noticed the difference.
Many of the mental strategies that he learned from Justin to improve
his athletic skills are also excellent life skills that have helped
him to become more assertive, responsible, and emotionally mature in
his personal life. The training he received from The Mental Edge was
not only the best investment I have ever made in my son’s athletic
career, but also his emotional development. I would strongly
recommend this program to any athlete, especially the youth. My son
and I are both very grateful that we found The Mental Edge.”
~ Ellen Paulseth, Parent
|
|
“We wanted
to send you a thank you for the wonderful work you have done with
our son, Tyrone. Somewhere along the line, the pleasure and
enjoyment Ty got out of sports began to feel more like pressure. He
had a harder time focusing and felt frustrated with his performance.
Through the profile assessment and the individual sessions with you,
he learned tools to help him with positive thinking, managing
disappointment and diversity, focusing, and increasing his
confidence in all situations. He could apply these tools immediately
and see the results in all areas of his life… his grades, his
relationships with family, friends and teammates, and his sports
performance. Most of all, he’s having FUN again. You made an instant
connection with him and understood exactly what he was feeling. Your
honest and direct approach quickly built a high level of trust and
he valued you as a trainer and coach. We’ve spent a lot of money
over the years for sports training but the Mental Edge program was
definitely the best dollars for the results we ever invested in our
son.
Thanks to Justin Johnson for his coaching and guidance (especially
during the pre-tryout time) and to Dawn for keeping it all
organized. You have a fabulous program and we would be happy to be a
reference at any time.”
Colleen and Dan Simcoe
|
|
Thank you for
being such caring and giving people! It is awesome for Jack to have
such a positive mentoring relationship!
Cheryl
|
|
“I wanted to take a minute and reflect on the
time that you spent with Allison. I can’t tell you how much a change
we’ve seen in her since she started the program with you. She became
acutely aware of what issues that she needed to address if she
wanted to achieve the goals that she has for herself in hockey. She
has worked so hard on improving her physical skills – which she has,
but she really needed some focus on the mental part of the game;
both on and off the ice. You helped her so much in that area! She
feels that she is so much better prepared to handle the issues that
affected her in hockey, and I have really seen the difference in her
game since starting the program with you. As we both have told
Allison, this is just a beginning in developing a stronger mental
approach to the game, and that she has to consistently use the tools
that you gave her to continue improving her game.
What’s even better is the “blueprint” that you left her with in
which the both of you collaborated on, that will help her deal with
future situations as they arise. She now has the tools that will
help her better deal in the future with all the issues that affected
her play in the past.
From a parent’s point of view, it was great to have someone outside
the family with credibility to discuss these issues with her. She
readily accepted your ideas, guidance and counseling and again, the
results were outstanding. We know that we will be in touch again
with you soon to develop a “maintenance” program for her as she
continues down the path of achieving the high goals that she has for
herself.
Thanks so much for your time with Allison; she really enjoyed the
time she spent with you, and she feels, as my wife and I do, that
she really got a lot out of the Mental Edge program. Thanks again!”
Respectfully,
Don Micheletti |
|
Our daughter’s sessions with Shaun have
definitely helped her deal with the many things she internalizes. We
have seen a 180 turn around in how she plays and maintains control,
I have not seen her ‘out of control’ attitude since summer before
she started seeing Shaun. Thank You a Million!
Parent |
For additional information regarding the newsletter articles or to
schedule an appointment
please call 763-439-5246 or simply email
Dawn@MentalEdgeNow.com
|
|
