“Team Talk”: Addressing Performance Anxiety in Athletes

Session Description:

This session will address a topic that is incredibly prevalent in performers. Many performers are perfectionistic in their approach to life and thus their approach to performance tends to be similar. This presentation is designed to describe performance anxiety in a number of areas of life and then to hone in on why it is similar – and different – in athletes. Additionally, a team approach to addressing performance anxiety will be described as well as the pros and cons of this team approach.

 

By the end of the presentation, attendees will be able to:

• Address performance anxiety in athletes through effective policies and applications that involve multiple members of the “team behind the team” and enhance athlete care.
• Address correlates and precursors of performance anxiety in athletes
• Describe the unique and universal aspects of performance anxiety in athletes.

 

Speaker Bio:

Dr. Christopher (Chris) Bader is the counseling and sport psychologist for the University of Colorado (CU) athletic department. In his role, he provides clinical and individual and team consultation to the student-athletes and coaches at CU. In addition, he works with incoming student-athletes in their adjustment to their new environment and in preparation for their matriculation through CU. He also serves on several department and university-wide committees; and he serves as the departmental resource for alcohol and other drug prevention, education, and treatment. Prior to coming to CU, he was the Assistant Director in the Psychological Resources for Student-Athletes office at the University of Oklahoma.  Bader is licensed as a psychologist (LP) in Colorado. He currently holds the title of Certified Mental Performance Consultant through the Association for Applied Sport Psychology (CMPC), and he is a member of the United States Olympic Committee Sport Psychology Registry.