THE MENTAL ASPECTS OF KICKING

SPORTS HYPNOSIS

Wizard Kicking has added some great books which touch on the mental aspects of life and kicking. The books are excellent in regards to steps that will help build mental toughness, concentration, relaxation, and self confidence. Wizard Kicking understands the extreme importance of the mental side of kicking, so we have added some great books to help prepare and develop kickers to be mentally tough. If kicking is 90% mental, then these helpfull books should be first on your equipment list.

Harness the power of your own mind! Hypnosis is now a mainstream, modern training technique used by top professionals; it?s not the submissive state that has been portrayed in movies and misunderstood by the public. It can help you sharpen your mental focus, relax your body, visualize success, stimulate healing, and control your emotions during training or when facing important competitions.

The positive effects are similar to what sport psychologists, coaches, and athletes refer to when they talk about ?getting in the zone.? In this state of mental functioning you channel attention and energies fully toward the task at hand. Sport Hypnosis is a guide to that special psychological realm and the higher performance athletes aspire to.

First, Sport Hypnosis presents an overview of mental training and hypnosis. Next, the book provides specific information on how you can use hypnosis to enhance a variety of mental skills. These skills include relaxation, imagery, goal setting, concentration, easing pain, and increasing inner strength. Finally, because athletes rarely focus on one skill at a time, Sport Hypnosis describes in detail how coaches and athletes can apply and combine different hypnotic techniques. Five case studies explain how athletes improved several aspects of their performance through hypnosis. You?ll read how hypnosis helped a soccer player eliminate a long-standing, debilitating hamstring pain and how a basketball player achieved a higher free-throw percentage.

Author Dr. Don Liggett presents the hypnosis techniques that he has applied effectively with athletes in many different sports. You can adopt these techniques readily to your own training and competitions. If you?re looking for a way to improve the mental side of your performance equation, Sport Hypnosis just may be the edge you need to become a champion.

About the Author

Donald R. Liggett is a retired professor of psychology and education and a hypnotherapist certified through the American Society for Clinical Hypnosis. He has worked with a wide variety of athletes, including powerlifters, basketball players, football kickers and receivers, gymnasts, wrestlers, hockey players, and cross country runners. He received his master?s degree in experimental psychology and doctorate in international education and educational psychology from Stanford University. While teaching the psychology of hypnosis at Stanford, he became the first person to use hypnosis to improve athletic performance of members of Stanford?s gymnastics and football teams.

In 1997, Liggett was invited to teach sport psychology at the University of Malaya and to use hypnosis to help Malaysian athletes prepare for the 1998 Commonwealth Games. These efforts were rewarded when three of his athletes won medals?two golds and one bronze. Liggett and his wife, Jeanne, live in Gig Harbor, Washington. In his free time he enjoys downhill skiing, playing the piano, and traveling.
Table of Contents
Part I: Incorporating Hypnosis Into Mental Training
Chapter 1. Demystifying Hypnosis
Chapter 2. Taking Mental Training to the Next Level

Part II: Developing Specific Mental Training Skills
Chapter 3. Easing Out Tension
Chapter 4. Imaging Perfect Performance
Chapter 5. Mobilizing Energy
Chapter 6. Building Motivation With Goals
Chapter 7. Optimizing Arousal Levels
Chapter 8. Eliminating Distractions
Chapter 9. Gaining Inner Strength
Chapter 10. Easing Pain
Chapter 11. Unleashing Self-Healing

Part III: Learning From Case Studies
Chapter 12. David, the Quarterback
Chapter 13. Scott, the Soccer Player
Chapter 14. Matt, the Kayaker
Chapter 15. Jim, the Pole-Vaulter
Chapter 16. Beth, the Basketball Player

Words of Praise

?My gold medal is proof of the success of Donald Liggett?s mental training program using hypnosis. All athletes should read his book.?
Sapok Biki
Flyweight gold medal winner
1998 Commonwealth Games