Shaker High School sprinter Jaquell Chandler uses hypnotherapy to improve his times on the track.

I wrote a pair of stories for this Sunday's feature section in The Record on how many local athletes are turning to hypnosis in an effort to improve their times on the track and earn college scholarships.

You may read the main feature by clicking here.

Troy High School junior Jordan Canzeri, a standout on the track and the football field, has used hypnotherapy and Next Level Football combines to his advantage in his journey to earning an college scholarship in athletics.

I also wrote a sidebar story on how local hypnotherapist Maggie Ferrari is involved with Next Level Football, an organization that helps increase the level of promotion for high school football players looking to earn scholarships.

For that story, click here.

Shaker High track runners Matt Conti and Chris Herman talk about hypnosis at the Section II Class A track meet Thursday at Shenendehowa High School. They will run for Providence and North Carolina State, respectively. (Photos by Mike McMahon - The Record).

It is certainly a fascinating topic, yet it also has its critics.

Most local high school coaches with athletes that use hypnotherapy will not comment on the record about the issue. Some feel that it's just a bunch of mind tricks, while others would rather have their athletes simply focus on physical preparation. There is also a fine line between the positive goal-setting in the hypnotherapy sessions and an inflated sense of ego in young athletes that may have repercussions down the line.

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What do you think? Is it safe for athletes to undergo hypnotherapy in an effort to shave seconds off their times and perhaps earn an athletic scholarship?

Is this the new wave of the future in sports? In what other ways are athletes gaining an edge on the competition beside the old standbys of more repetitions in practice and more time in the weight room?

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