IJGA Admissions Guide IJGA Admissions 2019 | Page 31

MENTAL PERFORMANCE PROGRAM The goals of the program are to: • Improve performance • Build character and self leadership • Improve mental skills • Create more consistency • Have a lot more fun Mental Performance Training is a critical element of junior golf development, to help players adopt a growth mindset, understand adaptability, and develop resilience to apply not only in golf but in life. The program is individualized to help student athletes identify their areas of challenge and provide a clear path for improvement within the overall blueprint of development. This program is explored in the classroom, applied on the golf course, and individualized through sessions and direct student reflection, and feedback, from competition. The program also works closely with the IJGA Character Program to provide an inspiring environment where students learn to become their best. Classroom Curriculum The classroom exposes students to different topics in applied sport psychology and the psychology of performance. The information from these classes promotes increases in self-awareness and serve to develop a working competence of knowledge that is beneficial not only in golf, but also in their academic and personal pursuits. On-Course Individual As a complement to the classroom curriculum, a member of the mental performance team works on the range and/or course during training to build on each student’s individualized mental plan and practices and provide support in the training environment. Tournament Experience Understanding how each student prepares and responds during competition is a critical component of reaching peak performance. Observing students during competitive rounds allows the coaches to evaluate progress under tournament conditions with the key emphasis in improving scores by understanding which key foundational skills require development based on facts and evidence. Accountability is emphasized as we ask each student to objectively evaluate their preparation and performance following each tournament. This feedback then processed and measured to further individualize each students’ plan for development. Tournament Experience is the area that we feel is pinnacle to blending in facts and creating a plan from an objective understanding. This allows students to further develop their foundation of skills and build confidence through independence. AD M I SSI O NS GUI D E 2019 31