counselor or some other trusted source. Ask that person to assist him in overcoming
the problem.
Q: Is there any other information you would like to add or that you feel is
important?
A: I cannot stress strongly enough that, when a player manifest a substantial
throwing problem, the focus should not be solely on the mental side but also include
consideration of the physical and fundamental domains. In this regard, a
multidisciplinary support team approach is essential to really get at problem
clarification and then performance resolution.
We want to thank Dr. Maher for taking time from his busy schedule to discuss this
topic. We appreciate him doing this Q&A while at the Indian’s Spring Training in
Goodyear, AZ.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Bio Sk etch --- Charles A. Maher, PsyD, CC-AASP is Sport and Performance
Psychologist and Director of Personal and Organizational Performance for the
Cleveland Indians. He has been with the Indians for 20 years and he has been
involved in sport and performance psychology for 30 years. He also has served as a
sport psychologist during this time for a range of professional teams, beyond the
Indians, including the Cleveland Cavaliers, Cleveland Browns, Chicago White Sox,
New York Jets, New York Rangers, Minnesota Wild, and San Antonio Spurs as well
as with tennis players, boxers, and other elite athletes. He is Professor Emeritus of
Psychology at Rutgers University where he serves as a consultant to the
Department of Sports Medicine as well as to the Rutgers football and men’s and
women’s basketball teams. He is a licensed psychologist and has authored many
books and journal articles. His most recent baseball book is The Complete Mental Game: Taking
Charge of the Process, On and Off the Field. He has had numerous professional experiences in
helping to clarify substantial throwing problems and resolving these problems with baseball players
and other athletes and furthermore, he also has worked over the years with government agencies and
private corporations, worldwide. He also has been a high school baseball coach, a high school and
college basketball coach, as well as a special education teacher and special services director in public
schools.