Why Sport Psych Took a Century to Score
Coaching The Coaches
Recently, the University of Kentucky’s basketball program opted to bring in sports psychs into practices for the first time to help coach the coaches on what to look for in their players.
Well. What took them so long?!
Sports psychology isn’t new—Babe Ruth was a guinea pig in the 1920s! But WWII and the Great Depression stalled its growth. The field resurged in the 70s with Dr. Martin Seligman’s Positive Psychology revolution, shifting focus from “fixing flaws” to amplifying strengths. Tony Robbins and Zig Ziglar later turned motivation into a science. Yet colleges lagged, clinging to outdated “grind culture.”
So, once again...what took them so long?!
For decades, sports psychology was seen as a “last resort” for broken athletes. But modern programs like Kentucky’s now realize: mental skills are performance multipliers.
What's a performance multiplier?
Well, research shows resilience training reduces injury recovery time by 25% and boosts clutch performance. Imagine multiplying the amount of time you or your athletes can be on the court or field by 25%! That's an extra fourth of their career! Or, imagine what extra clutch performance could do for them; we all know that the difference between a single shot can make or break a game.
Still, adoption hinges on trust. As Seligman proved, athletes won’t buy in until they feel cared for—a lesson UCLA’s John Wooden mastered (10 NCAA titles weren’t an accident).
💡 Trust Is the New NIL Currency
Even in an NIL-driven collegiate landscape, coaches are starting to learn it isn't all about the money; athletes want trust. Beyond the paychecks and perks, players want somebody who they can talk to when times get tough.
✅ Proof Over Platitudes
Skeptics demanded data—now they have it. Kentucky volleyball’s 2020 title run, fueled by mindfulness sessions, silenced doubters. Star setter Madison Lilley credits mental training for rewiring her confidence, and programs now pair breathwork with analytics, blending science and soul.
🧘 Holistic Training = Competitive Edge
Elite resilience is learned. Kentucky’s 10-second “reset breaths” (used by Simone Biles and Tom Brady) and reframing “I’m choking” to “I’ll bounce back” builds mental muscle. It’s not woo-woo psychology—it’s winning smarter.
- Trevor Conner, Founder of Hearts & Minds
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🏆 Action Steps for Coaches
- Start small: Add 5-minute visualization blocks to film sessions or practices.
- Normalize vulnerability: Share your own mental hurdles to build trust.
- Track progress: Make sure that your goals are specific and measurable. Without that, there's no accountability.
Want to up your mental game? Book a free 1:1 call with Trevor, our founder, below!