PEI

New app targets mental fitness in sports

A P.E.I. mental performance consultant is officially launching a new app Wednesday night, targeted at the sports community, to help athletes with mental fitness.

P.E.I. company launches new app that trains athletes in mental performance

Tara Costello of Ahead In The Game, a P.E.I. company that helps athletes with mental training and support. (CBC)

A P.E.I. mental performance consultant is officially launching a new app Wednesday night, targeted at the sports community.

Athletes need to train for mental fitness just like they train for physical fitness, said Tara Costello, president of Ahead In The Game, the app developers.

It features a mental skills tool box that uses video, audio and text to help athletes work on skills such as controlling breathing and minimizing negative thinking.

The app is more convenient and more affordable than paying for in-person consultation, said Costello.

"Not everyone can afford the individual sessions, not all teams can afford the cost of a live session," she said. "So I hope it addresses that barrier, that they can engage at a much lower cost and get started with mental training."

Costello says the app is getting a promotional push thanks to Innovation PEI's Ignition program. (http://www.aheadinthegame.ca/)
The app costs $9.99 and is available on iTunes and Google Play.

It also has a tracking feature that helps people reflect on past performance and set goals.

Promotional push

It has been available for about a year quietly, but the company is currently putting on a marketing push, explained Costello.

It received $25,000 from Innovation PEI's Ignition program to help do that.

Costello doesn't know exactly how many times the app has been purchased, but said there have been downloads from close to a dozen countries.

The official launch will take place at the Holiday Inn Express in Charlottetown, at 5:15 p.m.