Resilience and performance experts help athletes 'get their mind in the game' at Army Trials 2017

By Leanne Thomas, Regional Health Command, Pacific Public AffairsApril 2, 2017

Resilience and performance experts help athletes 'get their mind in the game' at Army Trials 2017
(Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

"After a bad shot at the range, what mental cues can you say to yourself that will help you to reset and perform more optimally?" asked Heather Hassinger, master resilience trainer and performance expert for the shooting event. Hassinger was speaking to participants at the Warrior Care and Transition's 2017 Army Trials.

"The same set of skills can be applied to every sport, but the application of the skills is different," said Joel Druvenga, the resilience and performance expert working with the wheelchair basketball team. "Wheelchair basketball really has a team component to it, and the athletes are learning what it takes for them to stay focused as a team when they are tired and on their third practice of the day."

"What kind of mindset do you have?" asked Shawn Saylors, lead master resilience trainer and performance expert. "When you fail, do you have a tendency to give up because you don't look smart, or do you have a desire to embrace challenges, to learn and grow? How can you make your thoughts work for you rather than against you?"

Many athletes will tell you mental toughness and preparation is just as important as the physical aspects of a competition. For that reason, a team of master resilience trainers and performance experts are here at Fort Bliss to help the athletes get mentally prepared for what may come during their training and competition here at Army Trials.

Individual sports such as archery and shooting use techniques that help athletes stay in the game mentally.

Saylors is here with a team of master resilience trainers -- performance experts from various Army Comprehensive Soldier and Family Fitness training centers across the country. The performance experts work alongside military adaptive sports coaches at every sporting event to help the athletes apply skills to build confidence, focus, set goals and integrate imagery which enhances overall performance.

These resilience and performance enhancement skills are not only applied on the basketball court or at the range, but they are applied throughout the entire Warrior Care and Transition process.

Resilience trainers work at each Warrior Transition Unit to assist wounded, ill or injured Soldiers develop an individualized comprehensive transition plan by using a seven-step goal setting process and are actively involved in the adaptive reconditioning sports program.

"When the athletes learn to apply the skills during practice, it is really noticeable when they compete because the skills become second-nature to them," said Saylors. "Setting up these athletes to be successful, to grow and thrive to be the best version of themselves in their performance, as well as personally, is why we're here."