Carly Anderson (nee Raab), 37, is a newcomer to curling but no newcomer to sports psychology. She has a doctorate and a thriving practice with her husband, Justin, in the Minneapolis suburb of Edina.
Dealing with curlers is a new experience for Anderson, the mother of two daughters, who said the sport “definitely lends itself to sport psychology.”
That’s because curling has the mental pressure of golf with the added elements of teamwork and communication.
“Where curling differs from golf is that it is a very team sport where every shot is directly influenced and made/missed by your teammates,” Anderson said. “You may throw a perfect shot but then it can be over or under, swept by the sweepers or the path misread by the skip (the team leader who shouts sweeping instructions). It can be frustrating when four people are involved in the shot. Everyone has to do his or her job almost flawlessly, because the difference between a great shot and an unsuccessful shot can be millimeters.”
Read more at Seattle’s connection to the U.S. Olympic curling team