DANBURY, CONN. — A former soccer champion and long-time runner, Dr. Nicholas Gallucci knows that training, preparation, skill and effort are all keys to an athlete’s optimal performance.

But Gallucci, a psychology professor at Western Connecticut State University, also knows that a vital part of the game is an athlete’s mental conditioning, and he’s put it all down on paper in a textbook published recently and titled “Sport Psychology: Performance Enhancement, Performance Inhibition, Individuals and Teams.”

“I really emphasize performance enhancement and performance inhibition, which is when an athlete chokes under pressure,” said Gallucci, who has been at WestConn since 1992. “This topic is unique with respect to its psychology and is not often addressed. In addition to preparing physically, the psychological aspect will give you additional benefit in sports performance.”

Gallucci, who has written many journal articles on various elements of sports performance, uses the book in his undergraduate sports psychology courses. He realized through teaching sports psychology that the issues of athletic performance were not well addressed on the undergraduate level. “I wanted to do a work I could integrate in my teaching and fill a void in undergraduate teaching,” he said.

“Sport Psychology” also includes chapters on motivation and well-being — or why people strive to do their best and reach their full potentials, including athletes. Motivation, said Gallucci, is a complicated topic because it is so varied and individual.

In addition to being a valuable resource in the classroom, Gallucci also described the book as a “how-to manual” for coaches, gym teachers and athletes of all ages and ability

levels. He said that some sports, like tennis and golf, involve both gross and fine motor skills and are highly psychological. Gallucci hopes that the book will open doors for athletes and their trainers by overcoming those obstacles that hinder performance.

For more information, contact the Office of University Relations at (203) 837-8486.

Western Connecticut State University offers outstanding faculty in a range of quality academic programs. Our diverse university community provides students an enriching and supportive environment that takes advantage of the unique cultural offerings of Western Connecticut and New York. Our vision: To be an affordable public university with the characteristics of New England’s best small private universities.