Do You Free up in Competition?
The number one reason athletes, coaches, and parents contact me is when their athletes can’t take their practice game to competition.
Do you look like a star in practice, but choke up in competition? Does your performance feel tight, controlled, or lack of freedom when you compete?
Many hard-working athletes who get lots of confidence from practice get in their own way (mentally) when they compete…
Why do athletes tense up and lose trust in their skills when they compete?
Athletes lose trust for many reasons. Here are a few:
- You worry too much about your competitors; intimidation
- You become too analytical about your performance; over control
- You are anxious or scared to lose; fear of failure
- You try too hard to perform perfectly in competition;
perfectionism - You can’t transfer your hard-earned practice confidence to
competition
All of these mental game boo-boos lead to under performance when it counts. The bottom line…
Your mind does not allow you the freedom to perform up to the capabilities you have shown in practice.
If your mind is getting in the way during competition, what’s the solution?
The first step is to understand how you are sabotaging your game in competition.
Are you afraid to fail? Do you worry too much about what others think? I think trying to be too perfect?
Once you understand how you’re getting in your own way, you can address it and make changes.
Allow me to provide an example…
Many athletes I work with continue “training” when they compete. They continue with a “practice mindset” in competition. They worry more about how it looks and feels than getting the job done.
If you or your athletes do this, you must learn to separate your practice from your performance.
But even more important, you have to commit to winning ugly and to get the job done when you compete. You must have faith in your practice and the skills you bring to competition!
This is not rocket science… I think it’s common sense.
Why do you practice so hard? So you can have confidence and trust when you compete. Please don’t forget this.
Want to learn all my secrets for improving trust in competition and performing with a fearless mindset? Check out “The Fearless Athlete: A 14-Day Plan for Unbeatable Trust” CD program.
The Fearless Athletes is one of my top programs. Why? You won’t find these strategies in other sports psychology books.
Read more about “The Fearless Athlete” here:
Your Mental Game Coach,
Patrick J. Cohn, Ph.D.,
Master Mental Game Coach
p.s. Are you a Peaksports member? Receive 30 percent off retail of “The Fearless Athlete.” **Please login first to Peaksports Network to obtain the special member only link at this address:
30% off The Fearless Athlete for Peaksports members only!
Related Sports Psychology Articles
- How To Take Your Practice Game To Competition
- 4 Mental Game Tips To Take Your Practice Game To Competition
- Is Your Athlete Able To Take Their Practice Game To Competition?
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The Confident Athlete
“The Confident Athlete” consists of 2 audio programs that include 14 days of confidence fueling exercises and a simple to follow workbook that guides you through the 14 days, helps you apply the strategies, and customizes the exercises to your personal needs.
Let me help you put a stop to the confidence leak. You can learn to have greater levels of confidence in competition than you do in practice by identifying the specific ways you undermine your own confidence and how to convert your practice confidence into COMPETITIVE CONFIDENCE.
“The Confident Athlete” is a ground-breaking system to teach you how to think like a champion and have ultimate self-confidence every time you step on the playing field, court, track, or course. The confident athletes was developed for any athlete – junior to professional –that wants to gain confidence. However, coaches and sports parents can learn how to teach others to perform with ultimate confidence. Use my program if you want to bust a slump or just wanting higher or more consistent levels of self-confidence.