Culture by Design, Not by Default: Implementing CORE Culture Design for Professional Organizations and Elite Collegiate Athletic Programs

This paper outlines Premier Sport Psychology’s CORE Culture Design framework, which emphasizes shifting from incidental or “default” culture to a “culture by design.” This approach incorporates strategic planning, clear organizational structure, defined processes, and careful recruitment to build an environment designed for resilience, cohesion, and sustainable success.

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Cold Plunging and Intentional Attention: Building Resilience and Focus in High-Performance Environments

Cold plunging offers more than physical recovery; it provides an opportunity to build mental endurance, focus, and resilience. By training intentional attention (i.e., focus) under controlled stress conditions, we believe athletes can transfer these skills to high- stakes performance environments. Neuroscientific evidence supports the benefits of cold exposure on neural plasticity, vagus nerve activation, and neurotransmitter release, making it an effective tool for cognitive and emotional development.

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ADHD in Athletes: What We See, What to Do

It’s no secret that athletes diagnosed with Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) can still reach the top of the athletic pyramid in today’s world.  Just look at the successes of Olympians and outspoken mental health advocates Simone Biles and Michael Phelps.  In fact, there’s a strong correlation between athletics and ADHD…yet many athletes with ADHD don’t actually know that they have it. Sport can serve as an incredible vehicle for humans with ADHD, and getting tested and receiving a diagnosis is the first step towards creating a blueprint for success in sport and life.  The Correlation The strong correlation between ADHD and sport may sound puzzling, but in reality it makes perfect […]

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“This Should Be Fun:” How the Minnesota Cycling Association Is Using Sport Psychology to Help Student-Athletes on Race Day

Dew glistens atop the grass on a Saturday morning at Xcel Energy Mountain Bike Park in Shakopee. While most are asleep, Dr. Erin Ayala and Alex Wulbecker-Smith are in mid-season form…setting up four cherry-glossed canopy tents and fifteen vibrant pseudo-recliners that rival a La-Z-Boy chair and inflatable pool seat crossover.  Simple, yet meaningful beyond what one would ever know.  It’s the first weekend of the Minnesota Cycling Association’s fall mountain bike league. With a middle school race on Saturday and high school race on Sunday, around 1,200 racers will hit the course south of the Twin Cities metro. Hit copy paste for nine race weekends throughout the fall spanning the […]

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Premier Mailbag: October 10, 2022

This week’s question: How can your child compete comfortably in pressure situations?   All athletes face it: those times when the going gets tough or stakes are high and routine shots, plays, or actions become easier said than done.  It’s especially frustrating when those shots, throws, or actions are ones that the athlete has completed thousands of times in practice or in previous competitions.  It’s a crippling feeling; muscles become tight, myriad what if’s swarm the mind, and quick movements turn to molasses.  To put it simply, the athlete is unable to play freely and pressure is often the cause.  Athletes of all levels experience pressure for various reasons.  It […]

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Premier Mailbag: Sept. 1, 2022

We all know that competing in sports is much more than just Xs and Os on the field. Regardless of age, level, or experience, we’ve all dealt with the mental side of the game and the struggles and difficulties that it brings.  We also know that the mental side of sport is often more difficult than the physical side.  You’ve made a free throw hundreds of times in practice but sinking that shot with the game on the line may seem near impossible.  You may have the best serve in the entire state, but for some reason, your arm feels like it weighs 1,000 pounds when serving in a match.  […]

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