What is the Key to Having Game-Changing Confidence?
Some athletes seem to ooze confidence. They appear unfazed during championship games, in the final minutes of a contest, or when trailing late in a game.
Why do these athletes have unwavering confidence? Is there something in their DNA that generates confidence?
Confidence is unequivocally not genetic. If you believe confidence to be primarily genetic, you may dismiss the notion that you can build elite confidence.
Not only is that misperception a mistake, but it is also detrimental to your performance and potential. Confidence isn’t something you’re born with, nor is it an exclusive trait of elite athletes.
Instead, confidence is a skill that can be developed by anyone willing to put in the work. Confidence is a mental skill requiring effort, focus, and dedication to build.
So, if you want game-changing confidence, you need to commit to training your mind, commit to working with a mental game coach who can teach you confidence-building strategies, put in the necessary work, and hold yourself accountable for developing your confidence.
At the 2025 Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl, Arizona State quarterback Sam Leavitt was oozing confidence. Leavitt has already established himself as one of the top young quarterbacks in the country.
In his previous six games, Leavitt threw for 16 touchdowns and just one interception. Leavitt believes he is one of the best collegiate quarterbacks and was looking forward to facing Texas to prove himself on the field.
LEAVITT: “… It’s just an opportunity for me to go prove myself. … I hope that every player on the field feels that they’re the best. That’s how it should be. You put all this work in and get to this stage. So why would you not believe that yourself?”
Leavitt wasn’t born with high confidence; he put in the work, and his work paid dividends. Confidence is a commitment. Confidence is built on action. The more you work on your confidence, the quicker and stronger it develops.
Every day you work on a confidence-building strategy, it shows up in your competitive performance.
Imagine how confident you would be if you…
- Strived for excellence
- Committed to maximizing your potential
- Looked for different ways to build upon your talent
- Improved the weaker areas of your game
- Prioritized mental skills training
- Broke through personal barriers
- Broadened your technical skill set
- Pushed yourself to higher levels
- Took ownership of your practice and competitive performances
- Never relent on improving little aspects of your game
Confidence is not reserved for the elite. Confidence is a mental skill developed by athletes who have the drive to achieve greatness.
Confidence empowers you to challenge yourself, learn from setbacks, and consistently push beyond your perceived limits. And when you commit to confidence, it’s game-changing.
Confidence is a process built step by step, not overnight. Identifying steps and strategies is crucial for the confidence-building process.
Therefore, setting confidence goals, creating a goal plan, implementing strategies, and evaluating your progress will help keep you on the path to game-changing confidence.
Related Sports Psychology Article
- How to Deal with an Unexpected Sports Loss
- How Athletes Respond to a Loss
- How to Evaluate Losses for More Confidence
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