So what is the difference between the world beaters and the wannabeaters?
Are these people just blessed with a better genetic makeup? Are they luckier?
Or is there more to this than meets the eye?
http://www.positivehealth.com/permit/Articles/NLP/cohen39.htm (1 of 6) [11/01/2001 3:17:57 PM]
Self-Belief in Sport using NLP
"It is madness to only prepare
yourself physically and leave your
mental frame to chance. The
difference that makes the difference
is learning how to feel strong in your
mind as well as your body. Every
athlete should understand that you
don't have to have a gold medal
around your neck to feel like you're a
champion." – Roger Black M.B.E.
In our work using NLP and modelling top athletes, we have seen some
consistent patterns. It is not possible to cover all of these in this article. We will
concentrate on what is arguably the most important element in the mental
makeup of world champions.
In reality, at the highest levels of modern sport there is so little to separate
performers in terms of technical competence or physical fitness. But when it
comes down to the beliefs which athletes have in their ability to be better than
the rest, to excel and be successful regardless of circumstance, there is a huge
gap between top performers and the rest of the sporting pack.

homepage Self-Belief in Sport
using NLP
www.mckennabreen.
com
"He goes into every game believing he's the best player in the world." –
Paul Ince on Michael Owen
"Gold medals are not just won on superior talent alone. It is the ability to
keep a strong mind and to truly believe in yourself and your ability
regardless of the conditions and the opposition." – Iwan Thomas, 400
meters Commonwealth and European Champion
"Sport is only partly about ability, talent, accuracy and skill – all those
lovely things. To think otherwise is to be taken in by sport's great
illusion. But talent is not enough in any sport; it is not superior ability that
separates champions from contenders, it is superior nerve. It is the
ability to respond to a clutch situation by playing your best."
These words were written by Simon Barnes in The Times following Rob
Andrew's famous drop-kick in the quarter final of the Rugby World Cup
in 1995.
The mental side of sport is receiving more and more coverage and attention
by the media, by players, managers and coaches. Sport Psychology has failed to
have the impact that many believed it originally would as most of the current
information is mainly in books which are often too theoretical and technical and
thus not really appropriate. From our research it is also apparent that there has
been a fair amount of stigma attached to sporting professionals working with
psychologists as if it suggested that there was a problem or something was
wrong with them. One particular world champion we worked with a few years
ago explained that if he had told his team mates that he was training to improve
his mental attitude so that he could have more control over his emotional state
he would have been the laughing stock of his peers.
Attitudes are changing with many top experts in sport agreeing that the
mental side of competition is exceedingly important. Billy Jean King said
"more matches are won internally than externally". Many of the top athletes we
have spoken with, go so far as to suggest that, on the day of competition, their
"focused confidence", "mental toughness" or just plain "belief in myself" is the
deciding factor. Graeme Le Saux, the England football International says "So
much of football is a mind game... so I go on to the field in a positive frame of
mind".

by Peter Cohen and Michael Breen
Peter Cohen is a sport psychologist
and NLP trainer, working, modelling
and training with top athletes. He has
worked as a health and fitness
professional for ten years. He is the
author of the best selling book,
Slimming With Pete.
Michael Breen is an NLP Master
Trainer and works closely alongside
Dr Richard Bandler the creator of
NLP. He is one of the most
accomplished and sought after NLP
trainer/consultants in Britain today.
About the Authors
Peter Cohen is a sport
psychologist and NLP trainer,
working, modelling and training with
top athletes. He has worked as a
health and fitness professional for ten
years. He is the author of the best
selling book, Slimming With Pete.
Michael Breen is an NLP Master
Trainer and works closely alongside
Dr Richard Bandler the creator of
NLP. He is one of the most
accomplished and sought after NLP
trainer/consultants in Britain today.
Peter and Michael are currently
running training courses for sporting
participants of all levels that want to
learn how to be better than their best
applying the strategies and
techniques used by the elite athletes.
For more details: SportSuccess,
Aberdeen Studios, 22-24 Highbury
Grove, London, N5 2EA Phone
(0171) 704 6604

It is not so important to cultivate sport competitively, as to do so recreationally. It gives us a break from our daily cares and helps to fortify our health. Activity, nature, and the fresh air positively affect our bad lifestyle.

Volleyball is both a sport for entertainment and competitive sport as well. If soccer is meant above all for males, women can play volleyball as well. What’s decisive in their case, as in the case of man, is their height. On the volleyball playing field a net is stretched over the playing area, over which the ball is hit. The equipment of volleyball players includes, for instance, kneepads. Each team, as in other collective sports, wears the same dress. In sports we call them strips.
Cycling has become very fashionable in recent times. Road bicycles are becoming somewhat overshadowed by mountain bikes. In riding a bicycle we must pay attention not just to its accessories, but mainly we must take an active interest in traffic regulations. The rider must not endanger the traffic on the roads. Undisciplined cycling leads to the risk of traffic accidents. Many people are thus hurt needlessly and some even die, having succumbed to their injuries.
Sports are run by a large number of sports organisations that hold matches, inter-city competitions, and friendly meetings of sportsmen.
During physical education classes, children practice not only athletics but also various types of ball games, gymnastics, swimming and skiing. Physical education is compulsory subject at elementary and secondary schools.
The most talented sportsmen can even take part in the Olympic games. We distinguish Summer and Winter Olympic games. They take place every four years. The first games were held in 776 BC. They were based on the custom of the ancient Greeks.
The Olympic Games are an international competition and are a great event in the world of sports. As reward for victory a sportsman may obtain a title, a bronze, silver, or gold medal, or other prizes as well.