Psychology of Champions

James J. Barrell, Ph.D., is a professor, researcher, and consultant. With more than 25 years experience as a consultant and human factor specialist for professional sports organizations and athletes, Barrell's affiliations have included the San Francisco Giants, San Francisco 49ers, and the Orlando Magic. He has also worked individually with numerous athletes in the NFL, NBA, Major League Baseball, golf, tennis, track, car racing, and professional boxing. His most recent successes include consulting on performance enhancement with the coaching staff of the University of Florida athletic teams, playing an integral role in supporting the Gators in their 2006 and 2007 NCAA championships. As an educator, Barrell has been affiliated with the University of Florida, University of West Virginia, Stanford Research Institute International, Medical College of Virginia, and the National Institutes of Health. David Ryback, Ph.D., is a board-certified psychologist consulting under the banner of EQ Associates International, of Atlanta, Georgia. He is the author of numerous books, more than 60 journal articles, and book reviews in publications including Psychology Today. An active member of the National Speakers Association, Ryback is a former columnist for the association's national magazine, Speaker. A former lecturer and professor at the University of Maryland, Georgia State University and Emory University, Ryback consults on issues of success in sports, business, and leadership skills.

FOREWORD Gordie Howe
PREFACE
INTRODUCTION
1 What Fuels Our Fires
2 Big Goals
3 How Challenges Motivate the Super-Athlete
4 Little Goals: The Aim in Competition
5 Results of Process?
6 Comparing the Goals of Super-Athletes with Others
7 Believing in Yourself
8 What the Super-Athletes Say About Confidence
9 When Confidence is Lacking How to Build It
10 Putting Confidence to Work
11 Being in the Moment
12 What Super-Athletes Say About Concentration
13 Broad and Narrow Attention
14 Inside That Elusive Now-Zone
15 Helpful Rituals and Visualizations
16 Where it All Comes Together, Under Pressure
17 How Super-Athletes Deal with Pressure
18 Getting Rid of Your Performance Anxiety
19 The Focus Edge Formula for Dealing with Pressure
20 Applying the Focus Edge Mindset
Conclusion
Biographical Sketches