What do you do After a Loss? It’s probably a question you haven’t given much thought. Often after a loss, athletes allow their emotions to take over. The more invested you are in a competition, the more intense feelings you experience. For example, losing a playoff game MIGHT generate much more intense and negative feelings. Failing to drop … Sport Psychology Article…
Are you a Starter Who Worries about being Replaced? Maybe you can relate to the following… You strive to be the best you can to earn a starting role. You feel proud of your improvement and accomplishment. Your hard work in practice has paid off, and you proved yourself to your teammates and coaches. However, an up-and-coming teammate … Sport Psychology Article…
Every Athlete Makes Mistakes How do you deal with mistakes during a competition? Do you quickly refocus on your game, or do you dwell on mistakes for too long? Why focusing on mistakes interferes with athletic performance: When you fail to refocus after a mistake, you give your opponents a significant mental edge. How to counter mistakes: In … Sport Psychology Article…
How do your Emotions Affect your Team’s Mindset? The impact your emotions have on your team is often overlooked. You may feel that negative emotions or outbursts only hurt your game, but the impact is much more wide-reaching. Let’s look at two scenarios. Imagine a basketball team who is battling for a playoff spot. One player is particularly … Sport Psychology Article…
What is Stable Confidence? Does confidence change depending on the record or ability of your opponents? Some athletes only feel confident when they compete against weaker opponents and less confident against tougher competition… Your confidence sinks when you become “wowed” by your opponent’s record, skills, or talent level. Focusing on your opponent takes the focus off your talents, … Sport Psychology Article…
Moving Past an Off Day Have you had an athletic performance that was so horrible that you felt embarrassed when the competition ended? Bad games are one thing. You can often explain them away or at least understand that all athletes have an off day. Despite having a bad day, you still have your confidence intact and feel … Sport Psychology Article…