A One-Minute Explanation of Mindfulness for Coaches and Athletes


PCA National Advisory Board Member Dacher Keltner is a Psychology Professor and the Director of the Greater Good Science Center (@GreaterGoodSC) at UC-Berkeley. Keltner is most famous in the sports world for his study on NBA teams, when he identified a link between positive, supportive ‘touching’ (such as high-fives) and success on the court. Keltner is also a published author, most recently publishing The Power Paradox.

In this one minute, Keltner explains what mindfulness is and how coaches and athletes can use it. When athletes and coaches thoughtfully embrace "how things are" rather than "how they should be", they are being mindful of reality. For instance, if a negative thought or feeling passes through your mind, you can be mindful of that thought without necessarily reacting to it. Mindfulness means treating that as a sensation and being aware of those feelings without letting that sensation or negative thought control you. To Keltner, when you're mindful, you can transcend the condition of nervousness or anxiety.

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PCA’s vision is to build a world where every child benefits from a positive youth sports experience with a coach who inspires them to become the best version of themselves in the game and in life. PCA trains coaches and partners with youth sports organizations, parents, sports leaders, and communities to make youth sports more positive, equitable, and accessible to all kids regardless of social or economic circumstances. For more information, go to positivecoach.org >