The Psychology of Strength and Conditioning

An effective strength and conditioning program underpins the training regime of every successful athlete or sportsperson and it is now widely recognised that psychology plays a significant role in the application of muscular strength and power. This is the first book to examine the importance of psychological factors in strength and conditioning and to offer a comprehensive overview of current research, theory and best practice. Written by a team of leading international researchers and practitioners, the book looks at how psychology influences training and performance and how training can influence an individual#xE2;#xAC;"s psychological well-being. It explores a range of key topics in contemporary sport psychology and athletic training, including: Mental skills training Neural control Behaviour change Socio-cultural influences on training behaviour Psychology in professional practice Psychological problems, including exercise dependence, overtraining and addiction Throughout, the book combines evidence-based research with discussion of the practical issues facing athletes, coaches and sport science professionals. By developing our understanding of the latest mental skills and techniques used by athletes and coaches to maximise performance, this book represents invaluable reading for all advanced students, researchers, trainers and sport scientists with an interest in strength and conditioning or sport psychology.