TBP 270: Sport Psychology Coach on How to Foster a Growth Mindset in Youth and Adult Climbers
Aug 21, 2024
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Zoe Sayetta, a youth and adult climbing coach from New York with a master’s in sport psychology, shares her expertise on fostering a growth mindset. She discusses the importance of emotional regulation in teens and how to encourage healthy self-talk. Zoe offers strategies for managing imposter syndrome and emphasizes using visualization techniques in climbing. She also highlights ways to motivate climbers without tying their identity to success, advocating for patience and resilience as essential skills in both youth and adult athletes.
Zoe Sieta emphasizes fostering a growth mindset over a fixed mindset to enhance emotional resilience for climbers of all ages.
The importance of creating a supportive environment for young athletes is highlighted to help them view failure as an opportunity for growth.
Athletes are encouraged to focus on process goals and leverage visualization techniques to manage anxiety and improve performance during competitions.
Deep dives
Exclusive Coaching Opportunity
A special six-month coaching offer is available for athletes interested in climbing training. This program, led by coach Alex Steiger, allows participants to receive bi-weekly sessions focused on personalized training plans. Clients will engage in various aspects of climbing, including strength training, skill-building, tactics for redpointing, and mindset coaching. The regular monthly rate of $2.95 has been discounted to $2.75/month if paid upfront or in installments, making this an attractive option for those looking to enhance their climbing skills.
Insights from Sports Psychology
The episode features a discussion on the significance of mindset in sports, particularly in climbing, with sports psychologist Zoe Sieta. She highlights the differences between a growth mindset and a fixed mindset, emphasizing the importance of emotional regulation and self-talk. Sieta also addresses how these concepts apply to both youth and adult climbers. Her expertise brings valuable perspectives on fostering mental resilience and effectively managing the psychological challenges athletes face.
Building a Supportive Environment
Creating a supportive and safe environment is crucial for young athletes to thrive in their climbing pursuits. Sieta discusses how coaches can cultivate an atmosphere where failure is seen as a step toward growth, enabling athletes to learn from mistakes without fear of judgment. This transformative approach encourages climbers to take risks and step outside their comfort zones to achieve their potential. By establishing strong communication and understanding the athletes' needs, coaches can significantly enhance athletes' confidence and performance.
The Power of Self-Talk
The conversation delves into the impact of self-talk on athletic performance, particularly its dual nature — both productive and negative. Sieta explains that while positive self-talk can motivate, awareness of negative thoughts is essential for emotional regulation. Athletes are encouraged to frame self-talk in a way that opens doors to possibilities rather than closing them off. Engaging in conversations about their thoughts allows young climbers to better harness their internal dialogues for improved performance.
Process Goals Over Outcome Focus
Coaches and athletes are encouraged to prioritize process goals instead of solely focusing on outcomes like competition results. Sieta shares various strategies for athletes to manage anxiety and expectations during competitions, including visualization and mindfulness practices. By defining what it means to feel good at competitions, athletes can concentrate on the process of performance rather than the pressure of winning. This shift helps build confidence and ultimately leads to improved climbing outcomes over time.
Zoe Sayetta is a youth and adult climbing coach in New York and she has her masters in sport psychology. She loves working with youth, especially on their mindset, and she has a private practice as a sport psychology coach for youth and adults. I asked her to be on the show so we could talk about the most common things she sees in her team and her clients and how she helps them all have a healthier, more productive mindset in climbing.
Here’s what we talked about:
How to foster growth mindset vs fixed mindset
How to deal with emotional regulation in teens
How to teach kids (or anyone) to try hard
Productive vs unhealthy self-talk
How to coach someone to want success but not identify with it
Social comparison
Imposter syndrome
Using visualization for physical and emotional practice
Lots more
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