Performing well under Pressure

3 Keys to Finishing Strong in Competition

Finishing Strong in Competition

How to Close Out Games and Maintain Leads Are you confident in your ability to close out games? Or do you become fearful and play sloppily when you have a lead? Whether your sport is hockey, soccer, football, or gymnastics, you must have an aggressive mindset to close out a good competition. Many athletes become nervous and fearful … Sport Psychology Article…

Coping with Pregame Anxiety

Pregame Anxiety

How to Stay Relaxed before a Competition “I feel like I’m going to be sick to my stomach.” Have you ever had this feeling prior to a competition? Have you ever been so anxious that you feel physically sick in the locker room before a game or competition? For some athletes, this feeling repeats itself as they carry … Sport Psychology Article…

BIG Competitions Mindset for Athletes

Looking Forward for Big Games

How to Approach an Important Competition Do you wish you could play BIG in BIG moments? All athletes want to come up BIG in BIG moments such as: Unfortunately, many athletes not only fall short, but under perform in BIG moments. What happens to athletes in BIG moments? Many athletes believe they just don’t have what it takes … Sport Psychology Article…

How UVA Handled Pressure Successfully

Successful Pressure Handling

Are you Successful under Pressure? Each individual athlete responds to pressure in his/her own way. Kobe Bryant stated he played his best when the pressure was on, “Everything negative – pressure, challenges – are all an opportunity for me to rise.” Brazilian soccer star Neymar Jr. implied he doesn’t feel pressure, “There is no pressure when you’re making … Sport Psychology Article…

How Parental Expectations Can Lead to Pressure

Parental Support in Sports

How Sports Parents Can Support Their Athletes “Everybody is counting on me,” “I don’t want to disappoint my parents,” “My parents get so mad at me after a bad game…” Do any of these statements sound familiar? You may have expressed these sentiments to a teammate or deal with these thoughts internally on a regular basis. Often, parents … Sport Psychology Article…

How to Mentally Prepare for the Big Game

Big Game Preparation

Are You A Gamer? Are you a gamer and raise your performance in the “big” game? Why is it that some teams play great all season long but can’t seem to pull out a victory when it matters most? Most teams fail to win the big game because of expectation and pressure… You tell yourself, “This is the … Sport Psychology Article…