The High Performance Mindset with Dr. Dana Sinclair

The High Performance Hockey Podcast

In This Episode, You Will Learn:

• The high performance model from a psychological perspective.

• What “the zone” means, how to get your athletes back in it, and what derails them.

• Coaching mental toughness: what to do and what to avoid.

• Advice for parents of young athletes for better mental health.

Resources + Links:

Check out Anthony’s Masterclass -

The High Performance Hockey Masterclass

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Subscribe to our YouTube Channel | The HPH Podcast with Anthony Donskov

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Learn more on our Website | https://www.donskovsc.com/

Check out Anthony’s Books

Physical Preparations for Ice Hockey: Biological Principles and Practical Solutions

The Gain, Go, and Grow Manual: Programming for High Performance Hockey Players

Show Notes:

Are you ready to take a look into the mind of a high performance athlete? Today’s guest is Dr. Dana Sinclair, the founder of Human Performance International and a clinical assistant professor with the Faculty of Medicine in British Columbia. A former international athlete, Dr. Sinclair is now a licensed psychologist working and consulting with individuals in the medical, corporate, and entertainment spheres. In this episode, we have an educational discussion covering the high performance model, mental toughness, and “the zone”, all from a psychological perspective. You’ll learn how to get your athletes back in the zone and what derails them from it, how to coach better mental toughness with context, the difference between perfection and excellence in performance, and even more. Tap into the high performance mindset to draw out the best from your players!

00:00 Join in for an educational episode with featured guest, Dr. Dana Sinclair, licensed psychologist and consultant!

02:20 What is your background in sports psychology?

03:55 What does a typical day look like for you?

04:50 As a former athlete, what made sports psychology interest you?

06:30 Where are we in the psychological aspect of the high performance model?

08:00 What do you think is a better model?

11:15 What are your main buckets for consulting?

13:10 How do you measure the intangibles?

15:55 How do players approach you as a consultant?

17:40 Defining “the zone”.

19:55 How can we get athletes back in the zone?

21:50 Can you use emotion as your friend?

23:45 What is mental preplanning?

24:55 “Perfection” versus “excellence”.

26:30 How do you mitigate the influence of social media on your athletes?

28:10 What is the value of self talk?

30:10 What can parents of young athletes do to support their kids’ mental health?

33:35 What can we do to help with life after hockey?

39:00 What is mental toughness?

41:20 Mental toughness from a strength & conditioning perspective.

44:00 How can we better find mental toughness?

44:45 How can players stay in the moment?

49:25 What are your goals in short term competitions?

51:00 What can you tell us about your new book?

52:50 What do you want your legacy to be?