Abstract
The purpose of this project was to develop a manual for collegiate cheerleading coaches to implement psychological skills training into a season in which a team would be competing at college nationals. The integration of the manual into a season can help to improve athletes’ self-confidence, arousal control, goal setting, concentration, and imagery. When all skills are mastered athletes are able to feel more confident in their performance. The research for this project was collected from college textbooks, journal articles, scientific research and other mental skills training guides. The content of chapter four was the product of the author’s own personal experiences and discoveries synthesized with the current research and theories. The project addresses common issues that cheerleaders face throughout a competition season and provides coaches with psychological skills exercises to easily blend into practice to help the athletes deal with those issues. The manual provides specific exercises and self-assessments for the coach to implement psychological training skills without a sport psychology consultant. With the implementation of this manual, coaches are able to provide the opportunity for athletes to perform at the best of their ability mentally.