LINCOLN -- Train your brain.
That is the message from Dr. Greg Dale, the director of sports psychology and leadership programs at Duke University. Dale is professor and author who lectures student-athletes from around the country about the importance of being mentally as well as physically prepared to play sports.
He spoke for 90 minutes at Lincoln High School on Wednesday before a group of athletes from Lincoln, Gravette, and Siloam Springs. Dale also made separate presentations to parents and coaches.
"These are the keys that will help you reach your mental potential," Dale said at the outset of his presentation to the students. "Look at your mind as a muscle."
Dale began with a slide show of some of the athletes he's worked with, including Peyton Manning and Michael Jordan. He met Jordan, who played at North Carolina, as a late replacement for a golf tournament.
"I have a great job," Dale said. "I get to work with successful people and pick their brain. Michael Jordan is a great trash-talker but he can also teach you a lot about having confidence and believing in yourself. Peyton Manning is another one who spends a lot of time working on the mental approach to the game."
Dale emphasized being focused and committed in sports and in the classroom.
"If you use drugs or alcohol, you're not committed," said Dale, who is a member of the sports psychology staff for USA Track and Field. "If you're not spending the extra 10-15 minutes after practice to work on your game, you're not going to be the best player on your team. Don't count on your parents to drag you out of bed every day. Do it yourself."
Lincoln basketball standout Shandon Goldman was one of the athletes in attendance Wednesday at the Wolves' gymnasium. He said he enjoyed hearing Dale speak about the mental approach to playing sports.
"He talked about things like handling the pressure, and that's important," said Goldman, who scored 26 points and made eight 3-pointers in a victory over Subiaco Academy last season. "It was worth the time."
Dale reminded players there will be failures and advised them about the 3-second rule after making a bad play.
"If you think about that play for more than three seconds, then you're not mentally prepared for the next play," Dale said. "If you hang your head or throw things, then you're demonstrating you're not mentally tough. Flush the toilet and forget about that play. The game moves on and you have to move on with it."
Sports on 07/30/2014