Middletown, Pa. – Penn State Harrisburg’s athletic department welcomed President and Founder of Icebox Athlete LLC Dr. Spencer Wood (PhD (ABD), MS, BA, BS, NASM-PES, NSCA-CSCS, and Member AASP) who talked to student athlete’s about mental toughness.

Spencer Wood is an internationally renowned speaker and dynamic trainer of athletes and coaches in the areas of cutting-edge Mental Skills & Toughness Training; and Athletic Speed, Agility, & Quickness training. As an author, teacher and speaker, Spencer has spoken at events such as the Nike Football Coach of the Year Awards in Michigan, DC and Orlando, the 2005, 2006, 2008 & 2010 Women’s NCAA Final Four, the 2011 Men’s Final Four in Houston, TX. (basketball), the 2005, 2006 and 2008 National Soccer Coaches Association’s National Conference, the 2009 BCA National Convention, the 2010 ABCA National Convention, in Dallas, TX., and the 2011 NFCA National Conference in San Diego, CA., among many other marquee national and international sports conventions and seminars. He has impacted championship teams and programs in the NCAA Division I Pac Twelve, Big East, ACC, SEC, Big Ten, Atlantic Ten, A-Sun, CAA, America East, Horizon, Missouri Valley, Big Sky and Big Twelve conferences. Spencer has also successfully implemented Mental Skills & Toughness Training workshops and programs for numerous national teams for the World Championships, World Cup and Olympic Games, and for teams in professional leagues such as the NBA that have garnered media coverage on networks such as NBC and ESPN. (www.iceboxathlete.com)

Over 170 student-athletes from across the athletic department came to listen to Dr. Wood talk about mental toughness.  Wood’s discussed key points in achieving mental toughness such as preparing your mind before the game as well as how to handle situations when the game gets tough.  After using examples from others athletes, such as Tiger Woods and Michael Jordan, to using situations with our own athletes to prove to them how important achieving a high level of mental toughness can change the outcome of a competition. “Mental toughness will not guarantee you a championship but not having mental toughness will guarantee that you will not win a championship,” these words spoken by Woods pushed emphasis to our student athletes of how important it is to achieve mental toughness as early as possible into their collegiate careers.

SAAC President Erin Goodyear said, “It was a pleasure listening to Spencer Woods speak about mental toughness.  His words had a huge impact on our athletes and we would encourage others to listen to him speak, whether it is in person or through his products that can be found on his website.”