Marvin Zauderer, M.S., MFT

In addition to the articles I've listed elsewhere on the site, there are many other resources that can help you succeed in your sport.

Building a Performance Enhancement Team (PET)

Being a competitive athlete is tough and demanding. I've found -- as an athlete and as a professional -- that surrounding yourself with a team of experts is a wise move. Here are the areas of expertise, in addition to sport psychology, that I recommend you consider:

1. Medical Professionals

If you don't have one already, I recommend you find a well-regarded, well-connected general practitioner -- sometimes called an "internist" or "family practice doctor" -- to be the "hub" of your doctor team. Not only do you see this doc for your regular physical examinations, but you expect this doc to refer you to the best specialists as needed. Here's an article on working with doctors effectively.

Of course, the best way to find great doctors is to ask family and friends, ideally some who do your sport. However, another good way to find recommendations is to seek out online parents' groups. Parents frequently share information not only on service-providers for their kids, but also for themselves. Here's an example.

2. Chiropractic

Good doctors can be worth their weight in gold, but their toolset tends to be limited to medication, surgery, and physical therapy. Chiropractors have a variety of other tools that they use to reduce pain and increase muscular efficiency. My chiropractor, Dr. Wood, has not only adjusted my spine, but has used cold laser therapy, electrostimulation, muscle response testing, and Kinesiotape effectively with me.

Here's one way to find a chiropractor in your area.

3. Strength, Alignment, and Flexibility

Sports take their toll. And, any particular sport tends to use the same muscles, tendons, and ligaments over and over while neglecting others. Building overall strength, particularly core strength, is usually a benefit to any athlete. I use the "superslow" strength training method, but there are many others. Here's one way to find a strength training professional in your area.

In addition to chiropractic, there are many other practices that can help you improve alignment in your body. Yoga, Pilates and Egoscue are examples. These also help build strength and flexibility, and can help reduce pain as well.

Speaking of flexibility, many athletes find even a few minutes of basic stretching before and after exercise to be helpful. Here's a book that indicates appropriate stretches for a wide variety of sports.

4. Coaching

At times, it can be helpful to work even temporarily with a coach experienced in your sport. In selecting a coach, I recommend you think back to great coaches you've had, and coaches that haven't worked for you. Create a list of characteristics of a coach that would be a good fit for you, and create interview questions that address those criteria. Here are some ways to find local coaches for Cycling, Triathlon, Swimming, Running, Tennis, Judo, Rowing, and Equestrian events (Dressage, Hunter Jumper and Equitation, Eventing). I'll be adding more sports to that list shortly.

If you're looking for a youth coach, I recommend the principles developed by the Positive Coaching Alliance (PCA). If the coach you're considering isn't PCA-certified, then I recommend you determine whether s/he still follows the PCA guidelines.

5. Massage

Although it may seem like a luxury, massage can release and rejuvenate tired muscles. There are many approaches to massage, such as Esalen, Shiatsu, and Swedish. If you don't know the differences, I recommend you research them or discuss them with a practitioner to determine which one is right for you. Also, some practitioners have been trained specifically in sports massage. In any event, I recommend you go to a certified massage therapist.

6. Nutrition/Hydration

What you eat and drink is critically important to success in your sport -- immediately before, during, and immediately after training and competition, not to mention your regular diet. Gatorade has a site with lots of free, useful material on sports nutrition, as does the International Society of Sports Nutrition. For endurance athletes, I've found Bob Seebohar's book to be useful.