In the past, physical ability was the main factor in determining a collegiate athlete's talent. But a shift to a more scientific approach in the past decade has led to an increased interest in the mental aspect of sports, as the field of sports psychology has become more popular.

Dave Yukelson has worked as Penn State's only full-time sports psychologist for the last seven years. After a nationwide search, he became the first person hired by a university working on a full-time basis with intercollegiate athletes, and is one of only a few in the entire country today.

Yukelson, who calls sports psychology the "psychology of excellence," works for the Academic Support Center for Student-Athletes. He calls himself a "mental training specialist" who teaches coaches and athletes the skills associated with effective performance.

"I teach the athletes how to approach competition confident and focused, so they are in control of the things they want to occur," he said, adding that the goals of mental training are the five C's: consistency, confidence, composure, concentration and control.

One of the ways Yukelson helps athletes achieve these five goals is with the audio tapes he makes, each designed according to the athlete's needs.

"The tapes are for concentration and affirmation," he said. "The message here is for athletes to go out and trust their preparation, to know what the goal is and to visualize what they want to accomplish."

But Yukelson said his job is more than just sport-oriented -- it also helps athletes balance their academic, athletic and personal lives.

"The athletes are students too, don't forget," Yukelson said. "But they have the extra pressure involved with playing sports at the elite level."

Athletes sometimes feel that they must excel individually for the team to win -- that it is their responsibility to carry the team. This can lead to excessive pressure on the individual, pressure that Yukelson said is sometimes overbearing and creates more harm than good. If the team concept is repeatedly emphasized, this stress can be reduced.

Field Hockey Coach Char Morett said this ability is one of Yukelson's greatest attributes.

"He creates a team atmosphere by making sure the players focus on their goal as a team, not as individuals," she said. "He's probably one of the few in the country who has a great deal of respect for athletes and coaches."

But Yukelson said that coaches and athletes sometimes put him under the microscope by doubting his effectiveness. He said he also feels there is a misconception in the field that "the shrink can fix any problems."

Yukelson knows his own limitations. He is aware that he cannot simply put a Band-Aid on the performance problems that athletes have and fix them. But he said it is a common mistake for people to believe there is always a mental problem associated with poor performance.

"I would never guarantee that an athlete will perform better or win more because of me," he said. "They are just more likely to perform more consistently because they are focused on the things they want to do."

One athlete who has worked closely with Yukelson is basketball center John Amaechi. Amaechi said Yukelson made him personalized tapes that were designed to work on mental imagery and foul shooting. Consequently, Amaechi's free-throw percentage has improved from 56 percent in his freshman year to 70 percent this year.

Although the two have a professional relationship, Amaechi said that "Yuke," as he is called by most athletes, is also a friend. In fact, Amaechi's mother met Yuke when she flew in from Manchester, England.

"She loved him," Amaechi said. "He's a great guy and he can help if you give him a chance. I think it would be very tough to get by without his and the Center's help."

Yukelson said he enjoys the interpersonal relationships between himself and athletes.

"I love what I do -- I get to watch them grow and evolve as student-athletes. I figure, I have one of the greatest jobs in the world."