PERFORMANCE BLOCKS
Yips.Nerves.Blocks
A performance block, also known as the yips, choke, glitch or monster, is a potentially career-ending, mentally crushing condition that causes a player to freeze and forget how to perform movements that were once simple and routine. It is experienced as a trauma; complete with fear, rising blood pressure, sweaty palms, anxiety, and tension.
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Left to right: Dr. David Grand, Mackey Sasser, Rob Polishook, Dr. Alan Goldberg at Shea Stadium before a game (2006) |
Performance blocks, aka yips, choking, glitch, slumps, and the monster, usually rear its ugly head under pressure and seemingly completely out of the blue. Years ago, the infamous Steve Blass of the Pittsburgh Pirates coined his experiences with the yips as the “The Monster!”
The Mackey Sasser Story
"Everyone kept saying I had a phobia," Mackey Sasser said. "I didn't have a phobia. I just had a lot of things built up inside of me. Rob Polishook and Dr. David Grand taught me how to release all of that and just let it go...Read More in Sports Illustrated, June 7th, 2010
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Mackey Sasser, former NY Met and current coach of the Wallace Governors in Dothan Alabama said “I feel like a 500 pounds weight has been lifted off my shoulders. I can throw batting practice to my college team without any problems thanks to these guys.” |
Exclusive Interview
Rob Polishook Interviews Mackey Sasser
Exclusive Radio Interview
With Dr. David Grand, Mackey Sasser on ESPN
Exclusive (Untold) Mackey Sasser Story
By Dr. Alan Goldberg
Articles on Performance Blocks
The Yips
Nicknames, Nomenclature and History
Slumps, Chokes, and the Yips
Understanding Performance Blocks
Performance Blocks
Symptoms, Causes and Resolution
Fight, Flight, Freeze
The Seven Biggest Fears That Paralyze Athletes in Sports
Tension, Tears, and Twitches
The Secret to Managing Stress
Broken Rackets, Bad Body Language
Solving the Problem by Addressing the Cause