How Can You Improve Your Mindset? Many athletes reach a point where they believe they have maxed their potential or can no longer improve. Some set career goals, and when they accomplish their objective, they become satisfied and lose their motivation to achieve more. For instance, maybe you set a goal of playing in college. Throughout high school, … Sport Psychology Article…
How do you improve your focus in competitions? Focus improves by practicing focusing. Most athletes show up to competitions and try to force themselves to focus throughout the competition. This focusing strategy rarely, if ever, works. It is easy to focus early in competitions or when you are on top of your game. However, when the pressure builds, … Sport Psychology Article…
Expectations equals pressure for athletes… Pressure is a normal part of sports for athletes. In fact, you would be hard pressed to find athletes not make some type of reference about pressure they felt. As you become more competitive, pressure seems to increase and, for many athletes, that can be an overwhelming aspect of the athletic experience. Athletes … Sport Psychology Article…
Can you take your foot off the gas pedal during a competition? Ask yourself the following questions: There have been countless historic collapses in sports when teams had seemingly insurmountable leads yet found themselves on the losing end when the final buzzer sounded. You can probably think of a competition in your sport when a team collapsed after … Sport Psychology Article…
What is the most significant mental factor that helps athletes pull off the upset? Competing against a significantly higher-ranked opponent or a team with a better record is not just a physical challenge but also a mental challenge. The main mental ingredient in upset victories is belief. By belief, I’m not just talking about pie-in-the-sky belief, but belief … Sport Psychology Article…
Is mental toughness really “a thing”? Mental toughness is constantly mentioned in interviews after sporting events. For example, in practically every basketball conference tournament or NCAA tournament game, a commentator, coach, or player talks about mental toughness. But does mental toughness really exist? If so, what is it, and how can it be developed? Simply stated, mental toughness … Sport Psychology Article…