Letter to the Editor: Volume 1, Issue 3

Athletic Insight - The Online Journal of Sport Psychology

Letters to the Editor

Subj: Feedback
To: insitemail@aol.com
Rio de Janeiro - Brazil
I am a clinical psychologist, undergoing a psychoanalytic formation (Freud/Lacan). Just for fun, I began researching sports psychology, and, not running into any written material from a Freudian perspective, I began outlining what I imagine could be a psychoanalytic ethical approach to sports psychology. It was very inspiring to navigate into your paper, an oasis in the middle of a desert.
Congratulations for the editorial line.

Nestor Torralbas

Dear Dr. Torralbas:
We appreciate the letter that you sent in reference to the Psychoanalytic Perspectives of Anxiety in Athletics published in the September, 1999 issue of Athletic Insight. We have received a considerable amount of feedback on this article and will continue to publish alternative views of subjects within the field of sport and exercise psychology.

Miguel Humara
Editor

Athletic Insight - The Online Journal of Sport Psychology: Line

Subj: empowerment
To: Insitemail
I have coached for 15 years on many teams. I have noticed that when I empower a team to make an active mental decision to play with intensity and intelligence, the play picks up noticeably. Empowerment lets a player play for something greater than the sport - to test themselves on an individual basis as well as being part of a team with a higher purpose than winning games. To make a statement as to who they are as people.
Once the team collectively make the decision, and believe that it only takes the actual making of the decision to play as hard as they can (within their physical limits) to make the change, every non-skilled aspect of the game from focus, to anticipation, to diving for the ball, to moving their feet in defense, etc, all improves immediately. Kids, more than adults, know that a win is meaningless and transient, while spending a whole season on being the best conditioned team, the team with the most intensity, the team that loves to go to the floor for a ball, the team that encourages each other, is all much more important and meaningful.
More importantly, empowerment gives student/athletes practice in doing what it takes to be successful outside sport. Making a mental commitment and then, following through, by giving it everything you have is the key to success. The act of "giving it up" becomes more important than the cause for which the player has committed.

Mitchell Lyons

Dear Mitchell,
Thanks for your letter and your interest in Athletic Insight. You have obviously given this issue a lot of thought. Our next issue will focus on issues relating to child and adolescent participation in athletics. Look for an article on empowerment in an upcoming issue.

Miguel Humara
Editor

Athletic Insight - The Online Journal of Sport Psychology: Line

Subj: Anxiety Article
To: Insitemail@aol.com
I was very impressed by the article about Anxiety in Sports Performance, a Cognitive Behavioral Perspective. As a graduate Psychology student it is wonderful to see such well researched, and well written work appear on the internet. I hope that the upcoming issue on Peak Performance is as promising, and I think that it is an excellent follow-up to anxiety in sports. Again, we are dealing with optimal arousal, or getting into the zone. I look forward to the upcoming article and send my kudos to Mr. Humara on a job well done!

Unsigned

Dear Unsigned,
I appreciate the compliment. We work hard to put together thought provoking well written articles in our issues and will continue to do so for some time. We're always happy to receive mail from individuals who tell us this. Of course, we are also open to points of view that disagree with ours and will present this information as it is received as well. Thanks again.

Miguel Humara
Editor

We look forward to your comments and feedback. Simply e-mail Athletic Insight.
Athletic Insight - The Online Journal of Sport Psychology: Line Mental Health Net Award Winner
Copyright © 1999 Athletic Insight, Inc.
ISSN 1536-0431