Perform with a Trusting Mindset In Competition
The ability to perform instinctively is critical to consistent execution in competition. The reason why you practice is so you can trust your method when its time to play.
Athlete who lack trust tend to:
- Second-guess their decisions
- Over-analyze their technique
- Take too long to make a decision
- Avoid taking risks and making plays to avoid mistakes
- Dwell on past mistakes
The more you practice a skill, you’ll develop a memory (motor) program for that movement. With repetition, movements start to feel natural and effortless. If you over control a well-learned skill, your performance suffers.
Don’t Practice Your Skills in Competition
Your first task is to stop “practicing” when you “perform” in competition. All the training is complete. Now is the time to put it to the test!
In competition, you need to commit to simplifying how you perform so you can play intuitively instead of perfectly. Put your practice behind you. Train your skills with dedication, but then rely on your ability when it’s time to let it flow.
Use Training To Learn How To Trust
Second, one of your tasks to increase trust is to change your practice to facilitate your on-course, court, or track performance. You should not spend 100% of your practice time in the practice mindset. This is why football teams scrimmage and tennis players play practice sets.
Consider this a transition time to help get yourself into the competitive mindset. You should spend at least 40% of your practice time in the performance mindset, as competition nears, to help you make an easy transition.
Why Trying Too Hard Hurts Trust
Third, you have to learn to quiet the over-trying mindset. Trying too hard to be perfect with your performance will not help you let it flow in competition. This requires you simplify your performance. For example, a baseball player should focus on seeing a good pitch and the target when it’s time to execute the throw instead of over analyzing the pitch.
Related Sports Psychology Articles
- How Elite Athletes Gain Trust in their Game
- Do You Seek Instant Gratification or Trust the Process?
- Have Trust in Your Skills
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