A growing body of evidence shows that physical activity can be a cost-effective and safe intervention for the prevention and treatment of a wide range of mental health problems. As researchers and clinicians around the world look for evidence-supported alternatives and complements to established forms of therapy (medication and psychotherapy), interest in physical activity mounts. The Routledge Handbook of Physical Activity and Mental Health offers the most comprehensive review of the research evidence on the effects of physical activity on multiple facets of mental health. Written by a team of world-leading international experts, the book covers ten thematic areas: physical activity and the 'feel good' effect anxiety disorders depression and mood disorders self-perceptions and self-evaluations cognitive function across the lifespan psychosocial stress pain energy and fatigue addictions quality of life in special populations. This volume presents a balanced assessment of the research evidence, highlights important directions for future work, and draws clear links between theory, research, and clinical practice. As the most complete and authoritative resource on the topic of physical activity and mental health, this is essential reading for researchers, students and practitioners in a wide range of fields, including clinical and health psychology, psychiatry, neuroscience, behavioural and preventive medicine, gerontology, nursing, public health and primary care.

More than 45 million children play youth sports in the United States each year, and most are coached by parent volunteers with good intentions but little training. This lack of training and an overemphasis on winning often results in stress and frustration for coaches and players alike, which can discourage young athletes so much that they walk away from sports altogether. With this new guide for amateur parent coaches, Dr. Jennifer Etnier, author of Bring Your 'A' Game, aims to change that. Dr. Etnier offers a system of positive coaching that can be applied to any sport, from the beginner level to high school athletics, and explains that good coaching requires working with young athletes at their developmental level and providing feedback designed to keep children engaged and having fun. Etnier gives easy-to-understand guidance on important aspects of successful coaching-including information on the development of children's motor skills, communication with a young athlete's parents, and nurturing a growth-oriented mind-set-making this a critical resource for youth coaches of all experience levels.

This book shows how kids can train their brains for success in any sport. Mental training is just as important as physical training when it comes to success in sport. And like physical fitness, mental toughness is something that can be taught and learned. Yet many young athletes have not learned the psychological skills needed to develop their best game. This book was written specifically for young athletes interested in improving their performance and reaching their potential in sport. ""Bring Your 'A' Game"" introduces key strategies for mental training, such as goal setting, pre-performance routines, confidence building, and imagery. Each of the seventeen chapters focuses on a single mental skill and offers key points and exercises designed to reinforce the concepts. The book encourages athletes to incorporate these mental skills into their daily lives and practice sessions so that they become second nature during competition. Whether used at home by student athletes or assigned by coaches as part of team development, ""Bring Your 'A' Game"" will help young performers develop a plan for success and learn to deal with the challenges of pursuing excellence in sport.

More than 45 million children play youth sports in the United States each year, and most are coached by parent volunteers with good intentions but little training. This lack of training and an overemphasis on winning often results in stress and frustration for coaches and players alike, which can discourage young athletes so much that they walk away from sports altogether. With this new guide for amateur parent coaches, Dr. Jennifer Etnier, author of Bring Your 'A' Game, aims to change that. Dr. Etnier offers a system of positive coaching that can be applied to any sport, from the beginner level to high school athletics, and explains that good coaching requires working with young athletes at their developmental level and providing feedback designed to keep children engaged and having fun. Etnier gives easy-to-understand guidance on important aspects of successful coaching-including information on the development of children's motor skills, communication with a young athlete's parents, and nurturing a growth-oriented mind-set-making this a critical resource for youth coaches of all experience levels.

In response to the demands of an increasingly complex society, more and more individuals are turning to exercise to promote their psychological well-being. The Psychological Benefits of Exercise and Physical Activity explores the psychological outcomes that are known to be affected by physical activity behaviors. Rooted firmly in foundational science, the text offers opportunities for self-reflection and application, with an emphasis on physical activity recommendations and dose–response relationships supported by research. Whereas most exercise psychology texts center around psychological theory or interventions, The Psychological Benefits of Exercise and Physical Activity focuses on psychological outcomes, such as the effects on depression and anxiety, as well as the impact on cognitive performance, memory, pain, and sleep. Written by Jennifer L. Etnier, PhD, who previously served as president of the North American Society for the Psychology of Sport and Physical Activity (NASPSPA), the full-color text includes engaging illustrations to help students visualize complex information, and the content is organized to be delivered in a semester-long course. The introductory chapters (chapters 1-3) set the stage with the history of exercise psychology, theories, and mechanisms proposed to explain research terminology and psychological benefits of exercise. In the remainder of the text (chapters 4-14), each chapter is dedicated to a particular outcome or psychological aspect. Each of these chapters begins with a vignette that provides a real-world example of why questions of exercise and the outcome are important. These chapters uncover the causes of particular psychological conditions and explore how exercise might affect those causes. Next, key research on the potential benefits of exercise for that specific psychological concern is examined. Each chapter closes with a chapter summary and discussion questions. Throughout the text, sidebars introduce thought-provoking ideas, provide opportunities for self-reflection, or describe interesting research studies that will help engage students. The text also includes learning objectives and key terms to further enhance student learning. The Psychological Benefits of Exercise and Physical Activity offers students a comprehensive overview of how the mind benefits from physical activity behaviors. It is an essential text for any person interested in motivating others and promoting physical activity for beneficial psychological outcomes.