Hey! I’m Raegan Geldart, Reaching Ahead’s new intern. I am excited to be working with Dr. Tim Herzog on several projects this summer. One of which being this blog! Here I will talk about several mental performance skills or ideas in relation to girl’s lacrosse. This subject hits home for me for many reasons. Having grown up in the Annapolis area, I played lacrosse for several years and absolutely loved it! I have also helped coach high school and youth lacrosse.

After graduating from Severna Park High, I received my Bachelor of Science in Sport and Exercise Psychology from West Virginia University, where I was given several opportunities to shape the path I’m on today. While studying abroad in Sweden I was introduced to biofeedback and how one can train themselves to be more aware and control their physical responses to stress. The interest I developed for biofeedback influenced my career decision to continue into mental performance training. More opportunities came in the form of leadership roles while at West Virginia University. I was lucky enough to serve as the president for the Sport and Exercise Psychology Club, as a Peer Advisor for sport psychology majors, and on the Dean’s Student Advisory Board for the College of Physical Activity and Sport Sciences. With these opportunities I was able to use the sport psychology concepts I was learning to connect with other undergrads and help them find their own paths. As a peer advisor I co-founded the Association for Women Networking in Sport and Physical Activity, in order to build more networking opportunities for women in sport fields.

Currently, I am the Club Sports Graduate Assistant at the University of Kentucky, getting my Master’s in Kinesiology and Health Promotion with a Specialization in Sport and Exercise Psychology. My leadership roles have continued with the Association of Sport Psychology where I am a Student Delegate.

Within this internship, I am doing more in-depth biofeedback training with Dr. Herzog, as well as helping integrate services with PEAK Custom Fitness Solutions. Lastly, I am working with two Maryland United Club Lacrosse and PEAK’s Summer Women’s Lax Training Programs on mental performance training.

I am happy that I am able to come back home and share my growing knowledge of sport psychology with the girl’s lacrosse community.