Fire Lacrosse Club

True elite programs recognize that athletics, competition, and peak performance requires not only physical skill, but mental conditioning and life management as well.  The research in the field of peak performance shows that elite athletes balance their athletic training with mental training and off-the-field life management (Triangle for Athletic Success). Our program teaches the concepts needed for mental conditioning and develops the insights and skills needed for athletes to excel in all three areas.

Each component of our “Triangle for Athletic Success” complements and carries over to each area. Learning the concepts of mental conditioning enhances physical training. Off-field life management educates athletes on the many “de-railers” that can threaten their careers. Our philosophy and belief is that it is the total athlete as a person that makes a peak performer.

Vincent A. Lodato, MSW, LCSW is a clinician and therapist who holds a Master’s degree in Clinical Social Work from Florida State University and a Certificate in Sport and Fitness Psychology from California State University-Dominguez Hills. He is a licensed therapist who works as a consultant to professional sports teams including three Major League Baseball organizations providing services on both the Major and Minor league levels for over 11 years.

He has designed and implemented developmental models of education, support, and intervention for minor league baseball players as part of an overall player development system.  Working with Athletic Trainers he has developed rehabilitation protocols and counseling for injury recovery. He also works with varsity high school teams and individual athletes from a variety of sports as part of his private practice.

He is certified in Hypnosis, as well as EMDR (Eye Movement De-sensitization and Re-processing) performance enhancement protocols and procedures and has trained coaches on positive coaching techniques and team cohesion. 

Vince is a professional member of the Association for Applied Sport Psychology (AASP) and is involved with their Youth Sports Special Interest Group.   He has been in private clinical practice for over 20 years, and working in professional sports and in private practice, he has been active with youth athletes, coaches, and parents to enhance both their performance and enjoyment of sport.
 

The Fire's mental conditioning program educates, evaluates, and individualizes a plan for each organization, team, and athlete. Teams can opt for group presentations on Goal setting, Achievement Motivation, Arousal Management (competitive anxiety management), Defining Mental Toughness, Handling Adversity and Setbacks, Focus and Concentration, Sports Image Training (Visualization), How to get into “the Zone”, Teamwork and Team Cohesion for athletes, Leadership, Pre-competition and in-competition Routines for preparedness, Injury Recovery and Return to Competition. The program also trains coaches in the principles of effective coaching and team building.  The Life Management component educates athletes on the need for balance between their athletic careers and personal life. Presentations include identifying off-field stressors and focus on separating life stress from the demands of elite athletic training and competition; dealing with family and friends; identifying your de-railers i.e.  Wine, Women and Song; drugs and alcohol; health risk of legal and “safe” performance supplements; proper rest, recovery, and nutrition.

The program is delivered in a group format to teams with smaller breakout sessions on specific topics at each athlete’s choice or coach’s direction. Teams attend the initial overview of mental conditioning and peak performance.  Individual athletes or full teams may then attend the individualized sessions on the above topics based on need and interest.