Seven Steps to Peak Performance: The Mental Training Manual for Athletes

Ingrid conHausen was a librarian in New Hamburg, Ontario.

Suinn has worked with various U.S. Olympic teams in an advisory capacity. He is also a sports psychology writer and editor. He is currently a professor of psychology at Colorado State University.

This manual/work-book’s stated objective is “to enable athletes of all levels to enhance their performance through mental training.” It is recommended that the book be used in consultation with a coach, but it could be used in a self-directed program.

Because the text is printed on one side only, there are 56 blank pages (although itis good quality paper). A further 23 pages are fill-in pages of training logs and self-assessment. The meat of this self-help text is contained in three or so pages for each of the seven steps that the author examines. These steps include relaxation training, energy control, VMBR (mental rehearsal), stress management, etc. There is a reading list, a bibliography, a two-page evaluation form — to be sent to the author — and a tear-out order form for the book.