Can Your Self-Talk Improve How You Perform? The more poignant question is whether self-talk affects or impacts competitive play. To determine if self-talk has influenced your performance, think of previous performances when you completely fell apart in a competition. What were your thoughts before spiraling downward? Did you mentally beat yourself up over a mistake or tell yourself … Sport Psychology Article…
Are you Ready for the Athletic Challenges in your Sports Career? Many athletes become so focused on obstacles that they become overwhelmed by their circumstances instead of seeing solutions. While obstacles may seem daunting, it is often not the obstacle that determines your future but your response to the challenge. For example, what if you were not chosen … Sport Psychology Article…
How Much Time Do You Dedicate to Training for Peak Performance The previous question is more than how many hours you practice or how often you train on your own. While physical training is necessary for peak performance, it is not the only contributing factor. You have probably heard the expression, “work smarter, not harder.” In sports, you … Sport Psychology Article…
How can you create positive competitive habits? The answer is by working on those habits during practice. How do you battle during competition and not back down? Again, the answer is to compete in practice from start to finish. There is a saying, “Elite athletes practice in the same manner they want to compete.” Too often, athletes think … Sport Psychology Article…
How does spectator behavior affect your focus? Why do some athletes feed off the crowd while other athletes lose focus? Crowd noise can be a massive distraction in sports competitions. Whether it’s cheering, booing, taunting, or hurling insults, the crowd’s impact can be significant. The people sitting in the stands can only influence the outcome of a competition … Sport Psychology Article…
Are losses devastating or motivating? This is a question all athletes should ask themselves. Some athletes allow one defeat, especially if the competition was significantly important to them, to take the wind out of their sails… They believe the possibility of another defeat is not worth the long hours of training and hard work. That one loss is … Sport Psychology Article…