#156 "Don't End Up a Flat Squirrel" with sport psychologist Dr. Tiff Jones

This week on the Way of Champions Podcast we welcome Dr. Tiffany (Tiff) Jones, a Certified Mental Performance Consultant (CMPC) who is on the United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee (USOPC) Sport Psychology Registry. With over 15 years of consulting experience, Dr. Tiff is the Founder of X-Factor Performance Consulting, specializing in mental skills training for athletes, teams, coaches, and corporations who are interested in reaching their excellence. Dr. Jones shares many great tips on how to be a better sports parent, why it is important to focus on relationship in coaching, and the number one hurdle athletes need to jump in order be successful. Highlights from the Podcast:

• What is the biggest obstacle that holds athletes back?
• How long does it take to learn a new mental skill?
• What is mental toughness?
• What are the best qualities a coach can develop to be better and more influential?
• How important is relationship in coaching?
• Why is athlete awareness so important?
• How can taking an assessment help a team perform at a higher level?
• Are kids looking for reasons why to get off their phone?
• Dr. Jones explains a few sport psychology strategies
• "The road of life is paved with flat squirrels that couldn’t make a decision."
• Know your role, Parents.

Dr. Tiff was the consultant for the U20 USA Women’s National Soccer team in 2008 (World Cup Champions) and 2010. She also was the mental skills consultant in 2010 for the Women’s Professional Soccer League. Dr. Tiff has worked with D1, D2, D3 Universities and Colleges across the country including but not limited to North Carolina State University (NC State), Louisiana State University (LSU), Kennesaw State University, Penn State Women’s Soccer, and Lynchburg University. She was the primary consultant for Greg Norman’s Championship Golf Academy and for several New England Prep Schools. Currently Dr. Tiff consults with USA Ice Hockey, USA Swimming, University of Florida (Go Gators), University of Southern California (USC) Women’s Tennis, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, William Smith Athletics, Skidmore Athletics, Stevenson University, Meghan Klingenberg Soccer Camps, and True North Sports. Along with the National Programs and Universities, Dr. Tiff works with several professional athletes in a variety of sports and has become a consistent guest on CNN World Sports. Dr. Tiff is a former College soccer player, playing for the Hall of Fame Coach Alice Ann Wilber. She attended Springfield College receiving her Master’s and Doctorate, specializing in sport and performance psychology. Resources mentioned:

• Athlete Assessments https://athleteassessments.com
• Equilibria in Sports https://www.equilibriainsports.com
• Endure: Mind, Body, and the Curiously Elastic Limits of Human Performance, by Alex Hutchinson

Connect with Dr. Tiff Jones

• LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-tiffany-r-jones-a827566/
• Twitter https://twitter.com/DrTiffJones

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