Page 16 - Summer 2015 Newsletter
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STEVE MELLALIEU
for Peak Performance. As a foundation of the book, I had extended,
I was very fortunate to have Professor Graham Jones as one of my in-depth conversations with a number of top performers and perfor-
lecturers at University - someone who was highly regarded in the mance consultants in North America. That alone was an incredible
ield, not only terms of his applied consultancy with Olympic teams privilege. Synthesizing the knowledge and insights that was shared
and athletes, but also his extensive knowledge and publication during those interviews helped crystalize and clarify my thinking
background in stress and performance in sport. One of Graham’s
and consultation practices.
former graduate students, Dr. Austin Swain, who was working with
the English Rugby Union team at that time, also lectured me. Austin JACK LESYK
and Graham would regularly share their experiences of working in In the early days it was Terry Orlick’s, Pursuit of Excellence (1980),
Jon Silva and Bob Weinberg’s, Psychological Foundations of
the mental side of sport in their lectures and seminars. As a failing
Sport (1984), Richard Suinn’s Psychology in Sports: Methods and
rugby union player whose sporting career was beginning to izzle
out, the topic resonated with me and inspired me to learn more Applications (1980), and Kay Porter and Judy Foster’s, The Mental
about working in the profession.
Athlete (1986). Although the pages are yellowing, these treasured
books remain on my bookshelf today.
ALISON RHODIUS
STEVE MELLALIEU
Without knowing it at the time, my own tennis performances in high
school were the glimmer. I was the best in my school, but still had I can still vividly recall the day I purchased Jean Williams’ 1993 text,
trouble closing out local school rivalry matches that I knew I could Applied Sport Psychology: Personal Growth to Peak Performance
and should win. I also realized that there was a mental component from my University bookshop for the start of my master’s program.
to sport during constant viewing of Wimbledon from the age of At the time it was the irst collection of works that provided a com-
about 3! I used to analyze how the players looked and sounded in prehensive evidenced-based resource for aspiring practitioners to
between points. I had no idea what sport psychology was when draw upon. It was the ‘go-to’ text in the early years of my training
leaving high school, so I embarked on a psychology undergrad to help with intervention prescription and design, especially the
degree irst (I studied Scottish professional soccer players for my chapters covering the big four mental skills. To this day, many edi-
project), and toward the end of that degree, found that there was a tions later, it’s still a relevant text, and I was extremely honored to
ield called “Sport Psychology.” Phew!
be able to contribute a chapter to the latest edition.
ALISON RHODIUS
What is one publication that inluenced your work?
I am going to cheat and give you two! For an academic text I would
CHARLIE BROWN
say Understanding Psychological Preparation for Sport: Theory
I’ve got to give you two and a half: Weinberg and Gould’s Foundations and Practice of Elite Performers by Hardy, Jones, and Gould (1996).
of Sport and Exercise Psychology helped provide a solid founda- It was more rigorous than other general texts, and had the word
tional core. Bob Nideffer’s Attentional Model of Performance has “elite” in the title. This group is the one that I am most fascinated
been a foundation of my applied work; and, his article, Trading an I with (hence my “Wee Chats with Brilliant People” series). The other
for an Eye, particularly inluenced me. That’s 12; the other work is book is an autobiographical account, which is the genre I read the
the book that Kate Hays and I co-authored, You’re On! Consulting
most. It’s called Mind over Matter by the British explorer Ranulph
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