Contact: Wendy Lynne
Email: wendy@mentaltoughnesstrainer.com

STRUGGLING 17-YEAR-OLD POLE VAULTER ACHIEVES THE MENTAL TOUGHNESS SHE NEEDS TO WIN STATE CHAMPIONSHIP

SEATTLE, WA – Even teen athletes with the highest potential still struggle with mental challenges that limit their ability to perform at their highest level. That’s exactly what happened to pole-vaulter Bailee Jacka from Deer Park High School. She had all the physical skills and training to make her a state champion: superior speed, coordination and tremendous strength for her size. Yet during mid-season 2011, her coach, Laurie Chadwick, was stumped when Bailee lost her confidence and was considering quitting after four frustrating months of trying to implement the skills her coach was teaching her.

This story could have ended there, and many do. Another young athlete with great promise fails to blossom into their potential.

As Bailee, her coach and mother will tell you, it’s an extremely frustrating situation for everyone involved. It affected her family life, school and her overall self-esteem. They felt like they should be doing more, but were coming up short and weren’t sure why.

Thanks to the internet, Bailee’s concerned mother, Julie found Craig Sigl, a mental performance trainer who has helped hundreds of youth athletes with performance anxiety and difficult emotions eliminate them — before they dramatically affect their physical performances.

Craig Sigl, who has been featured on the Evening Magazine television show for his success in helping teen athletes overcome mental blocks, provided Mental Toughness Training tools that enabled Bailee to rise above her mental/emotional hurdles so she could rise up to her true physical capabilities.

After working with Sigl’s program for only five weeks, Bailee won the Washington State 2A girls crown in pole-vaulting by clearing 10’9” in a driving rainstorm. In the regional’s, she hit a personal best of 11’7”.

When asked how she did it, Bailee replied: “I just got over all of my fears.” Fears like disappointing her coach and parents, of not achieving her goals and getting injured. Most importantly, she said she learned how to master her emotions, which freed her up to perform to her potential and let go of her fears.

“For teens the competition and pressure to perform has never been greater and those without mental skills will get left behind,” said Sigl, who works with teen athletes both one-on-one and through his online Mental Toughness training courses. “What’s missing for kids and teens in sports is the mental side of training that creates true self confidence and resiliency in all areas of their life.”

Technology’s role in sports training

Remarkably Bailee and Sigl have never met in person. Her entire mental toughness training was over the internet using Skype!

Sigl reports that with kids being so technology savvy it makes sense to provide a training they can use anytime or anywhere on their cellphone, ipod or computer. “It’s like having a coach in their pocket when they need it!”

The benefits to online training include:

• Online training enhances whatever training is already available. Teen athletes with exceptional natural physical ability have a tool for fully realizing their potential no matter where they live.

• Learning is presented in a format that is attractive to modern teens. It’s the best of both worlds: real-world experiential and digital-world delivery.

• A wider range of kids get access to key mental training tools like: visualization, focusing techniques, thought control, and performing under pressure. They won’t be hampered by whether or not they have access to, or can afford, top-level coaching.

According to Sigl, this kind of mental toughness training makes all the difference not only in teens’ sports lives, but also positively affects their school work and future careers.

Sigl stated, “If we focus on teens getting greater enjoyment from their sports experiences, they will perform at a higher level, and, most importantly, gain confidence and a “never-give-up” attitude. That’s the win that will stay with them for years to come.”

For further information or to schedule an interview, call 425-691-8402 or email wendy@MentalToughnessTrainer.com