Winning Mindset begins at Lind-Ritzville/Sprague

Paul Swanson Jr., a former Ritzville High School football player who went on to play for Arkansas State University, returned to Ritzville last week as part of Winning Mindset workshop program.

Swanson will make seven more visits to the area this school year.

LRS Athletic Director Greg Whitmore invited all middle school and high school athletes and their parents to come hear Swanson speak in his first session.

Swanson spoke for about 90 minutes. He described himself as a personal trainer for your mind.

"I consider myself a mental conditioning coach," Swanson said. "I'm here to work out your mental muscles, your mindset muscles ... Mindset really does make a difference. And if you are an athlete who understands that, you are going to last longer than a guy who can run faster than you or a girl who can jump higher than you."

He talked a lot about mental strength as something that has to be actively worked on, just like physical strength and fitness.

"Mindset is not something that can be avoided, similar to your diet," Swanson said. "If you want to be in really good shape, eating well is not optional. If you want to be really really strong, spending time in the gym is not an optional thing. It's the same with mindset."

He also said mindset has to be something that is worked on all year long.

"Strength training for the mind, like strength training for the body, you can't only do it in-season," Swanson said. "It's like strength. You can't just work out during the football season, can you?"

Swanson also stressed that what can be learned in his sessions can be used in life outside of sports.

"We address school, sports and life. I think we can all agree that confidence on the football field or the volleyball court can translate into confidence in the classroom and confidence in a job interview," Swanson said. "Some people just don't apply it as much and they should or could, but we are going to talk about having that same mindset in all three."

Winning Mindset is a mental training program founded by former college wrestlers Gene Zannetti and Jeff Zannetti.