Summer athletes at Whanganui Collegiate School take tips about training the mind from renowned New Zealand sports psychologist

Dominic Vettise (third from left) made a presentation at Whanganui Collegiate School where Andrew Brunt (left), Charlotte McKinlay and Sam Sherriff (right) were in attendance. Photo / Supplied

Your mentality can be just as important as your physical attributes when it comes to competing and winning in sports.

That was the message relayed by renowned sports psychologist Dominic Vettise when he visited Whanganui Collegiate School last week.

Vettise made a presentation to WCS summer athletes about training their minds for the strategies of the game, the highs of winning, the lows of losing and maintaining their emotions under pressure.

One of the athletes in attendance was WCS rowing captain Charlotte McKinlay who said demonstrating courage and respect for her crew is what is going to drive their team closer.

"[I learned that] to embrace failure and to make sure we learn from these experiences builds a stronger race," McKinlay said.

Vettise works with high performance athletes and teams including the Black Ferns 7s, Olympic kayakers, the Auckland Aces and several Black Caps.

This experience was invaluable for WCS first XI cricket captain Sam Sherriff, who walked away with self-talk techniques and knowing that mental rehearsal will help him in the Gillette Cup.

Whanganui Collegiate School plans to host Vettise again in an effort to give their students the extra edge in sporting performances.