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The objective of this study was to analyse the differences in tactical principles, decision-making and execution of the return shot and drop shot of squash players at different levels of proficiency. The sample was composed of 80 players, divided into four levels of expertise (first national category, second national category, autonomous regional level and provincial level). The Squash Performance Evaluation Tool was used for recording the level of decision-making and execution. The results revealed that reading of the context of the game improved as the level of the player's expertise of both the return shot and the drop shot increased. The correlation between correct decision-making and better quality execution for both the return shot and the drop shot in squash also improved with the player's level of expertise. According to these results, improvements in situational tactical principles and the application of tactical principles, correct decision-making and high-quality execution are essential to develop the athletic performance level among squash players. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An interview with strength & conditioning coach, Michael Davie is presented. He discusses the advantage of working within the academy and institute system to acquire a diverse skill and provide support for multiple sports and athletes. He cites his interest in playing basketball as well as mountain bike and road cycling. He features the influence of Dan Baker as strength & conditioning coach.

The purpose of this article is to provide a summary and discussion of the main workshop ideas presented at the national 2013 AASP Conference, entitled Mindfulness Strategies: Consulting with Coaches and Athletes. In this article a brief overview of the meaning of mindfulness and potential benefits of mindfulness-based strategies are offered. Specific mindfulness-based strategies for sport psychology consultants working with athletes and coaches are presented. The mindfulness-oriented strategies offered, integrated with traditional mental skills training, include normalizing the experience of negative emotions, accepting aversive emotions, clarifying and committing to task-focused efforts in performance, visualizing success and noticing the good. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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The article presents views from several coaches regarding ways to successfully integrate mental skills training (MST) program into sports system. Jenelle N. Gilbert of California State University at Fresno stresses the importance of coordinating MST programs through communication and connection particularly at the high school level. Hillary Cauthen of Your Sports Mind suggests the need to communicate effectively with athletic coaches and parents when implementing MST programs. William V. Massey of University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee advises to use intensity regulation and information processing to master MST in mixed martial arts (MMA).

Abstract: Objective: The purpose of this study was to investigate changes in the empathic accuracy of sport coaches in relation to feedback of information. Coaches'' experience and qualification level were also considered. Method: Sixty badminton coaches were randomly assigned to either an experimental or a control group. All coaches watched a video of an athlete''s technical training session with her coach. At designated segments of the video all coaches were asked to make inferences about what the athlete''s thoughts and feelings had been. Only the coaches in the experimental group were given corrective feedback on the athlete''s thoughts and feelings following their inference. Empathic accuracy was estimated by comparing these inferences with the athlete''s own self-reported thoughts and feelings. Results: It was shown that both groups'' empathic accuracy improved over the course of watching the video; however, the experimental group improved significantly more. It was found that coaches'' experience was significantly associated with empathic accuracy for the control group only. Conclusions: The results suggest that continued exposure to an athlete increases a coach''s empathic accuracy and that this can be significantly improved with accurate feedback about that athlete. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Providing sport psychology services to athletes and coaches before and during the Olympic Games presents a number of ethical concerns and challenges for the practitioner. These challenges are amplified by the nontraditional way in which sport psychology services are delivered, requiring careful attention to maintaining ethical behavior no matter the setting. The purpose of this article is, from the perspective of sport psychology consultants employed by the U.S. Olympic Committee, to outline specific challenges, including prolonged travel with teams, multiple relationships, and such Olympic Games-related issues as dealing with the media, team identification, servicing multiple teams simultaneously, and practitioner self-care. Strategies for coping with these challenges, as well as questions to ponder, are also presented as a way to increase awareness of this field's unique challenges for the aspiring practitioner. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]