Boost Self-Confidence

Boost self-confidence and sports articles for athletes, coaches, and sports parents

Athletes Who Lose Confidence When They “Lose” Warm Ups

Losing Confidence

Does Your Confidence Tank After the Warm Up? Do you (or your athletes) have to perform well in warm ups to feel confident at the start of competition? I’m sure you build confidence from lots or practice and training. But what happens to your confidence when you don’t perform up to your expectations during the the warm up? … Sport Psychology Article…

Sports Confidence Booster 1: Dealing with Strict Expectations

Finishing Strong in Competition

How to Manage Strict Expectations Last week, I wrote to you about confidence-killer #1 in sports: Harboring strict expectations… Athletes who maintain very high expectations (demands) easily lose confidence when they don’t perform up to their expectations. Strict expectations also can lead to judgmental thinking and self-doubt. Even worse, athletes become frustrated when they fail to perform up … Sport Psychology Article…

Do You Beat Yourself Up and Lose Confidence After Defeat?

Handling Defeat

What Happens to your Confidence After a Loss? Do you (or your athletes) beat yourself up and lose confidence after a poor performance or defeat? Or do you walk away feeling dejected and lose motivation to improve after a tough loss? Some athletes think they can use defeat as a strong motivator… But defeat can wreck careers in … Sport Psychology Article…

Kids Who Lack Confidence at the Start of Games

Sports Psychology Podcast

In this week’s sports psychology podcast, mental game of sports expert, Dr. Patrick Cohn, answers a question from a sports parent and coach who wants to know why his daughter takes more time to warm up and feel comfortable at the start of competition. Listen to this month’s sports psychology podcast to learn how to improve your performance … Sport Psychology Article…

Can You “Enjoy” the Pain and Suffering of Competition?

Long Competitions

Do you Have the Mental Stamina to Fight to the End? Is your fitness strong enough to endure a five-hour battle so that you don’t lose your mental focus? Are you mentally able to push past the physical pain when your body is telling you it’s out of gas? I loved the feeling of a close, hard-fought competition … Sport Psychology Article…

How Confidence and Trust Supercharge Your Mental Game

Fearless Athlete CD

Do you (or athletes you coach) excel in practice, but freeze up in competition? Do you have a hard time just being free or flow in competition? Freezing up (or what I call lack of trust) in competition is a common challenge for many athletes. If you tighten up and control your performance in competition, you lack trust … Sport Psychology Article…