Rachael Adams Mental Training Journey to the Olympics
The Turning Point
In 2015, Rachael Adams was left off the U.S. Women’s National Team roster for the World Cup. Rather than viewing this as a ceiling, Adams began working with high-performance psychologist Michael Gervais.
Thoughts Become Reality
Adams told the Associated Press in August 2016: “It’s not like I didn’t believe in myself. But our thoughts become a reality.” This encapsulates a core finding of sport psychology research: cognitive appraisal of adversity predicts subsequent performance more reliably than physical preparation.
The Outcome
Adams earned an Olympic starting position for Rio 2016. Head coach Karch Kiraly named her the most improved player in the U.S. program. The team won bronze.
The Lesson for Club and High School Athletes
The same cognitive patterns operate at every level. Our Champion Mindset Assessment measures resilience after setbacks, confidence under pressure, and growth mindset.
Source: Associated Press / San Diego Union-Tribune, August 2016.
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Mustafa shares only what he learned works watching his daughter's volleyball journey. A volleyball dad and former athlete who built VBallStars from real experience.
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