Does Your Confidence Tank After the Warm Up? Do you (or your athletes) have to perform well in warm ups to feel confident at the start of competition? I'm sure you build confidence from lots or practice and training. But what happens to your confidence when you don't perform up to your expectations during the the warm up? This is a common confidence-buster for athletes: They judge the … [Read more...] about Athletes Who Lose Confidence When They “Lose” Warm Ups
Boost Self-Confidence
Sports Confidence Booster 1: Dealing with Strict Expectations
How to Manage Strict Expectations Last week, I wrote to you about confidence-killer #1 in sports: Harboring strict expectations... Athletes who maintain very high expectations (demands) easily lose confidence when they don't perform up to their expectations. Strict expectations also can lead to judgmental thinking and self-doubt. Even worse, athletes become frustrated when they fail to … [Read more...] about Sports Confidence Booster 1: Dealing with Strict Expectations
Do You Beat Yourself Up and Lose Confidence After Defeat?
Do you (or your athletes) beat yourself up and lose confidence after a poor performance or defeat? Or do you walk away feeling dejected and lose motivation to improve after a tough loss? Some athletes think they can use defeat as a strong motivator... But defeat can wreck careers in sports--depending on how one reacts. Do you believe in the idea that you can learn or grow from defeat … [Read more...] about Do You Beat Yourself Up and Lose Confidence After Defeat?
Kids Who Lack Confidence at the Start of Games
In this week's sports psychology podcast, mental game of sports expert, Dr. Patrick Cohn, answers a question from a sports parent and coach who wants to know why his daughter takes more time to warm up and feel comfortable at the start of competition. Listen to this month's sports psychology podcast to learn how to improve your performance in sports and other mental game barriers that limit … [Read more...] about Kids Who Lack Confidence at the Start of Games
Can You “Enjoy” the Pain and Suffering of Competition?
Do you have the mental stamina to fight to the end of a long, closely contended competition and never give up? Is your fitness strong enough to endure a five-hour battle so that you don’t lose your mental focus? Are you mentally able to push past the physical pain when your body is telling you it’s out of gas? I loved the feeling of a close, hard-fought competition when I played football, … [Read more...] about Can You “Enjoy” the Pain and Suffering of Competition?
How Confidence and Trust Supercharge Your Mental Game
Do you (or athletes you coach) excel in practice, but freeze up in competition? Do you have a hard time just being free or flow in competition? Freezing up (or what I call lack of trust) in competition is a common challenge for many athletes. If you tighten up and control your performance in competition, you lack trust in your skills. Or you could lose confidence in your abilities when you … [Read more...] about How Confidence and Trust Supercharge Your Mental Game
Sports Psychology Podcast: Helping Athletes Overcome Tentative Performances
In this week's sports psychology podcast, Dr. Cohn helps a parent whose child stopped taking risks and stopped shotting during basketball games. Sports psychology expert, Dr. Patrick Cohn helps athletes trust their abilities and get into a performance mindset. In this Podcast, Dr. Cohn gives the top mental game strategies to help athletes overcome slumps by taking risks and playing aggressive. … [Read more...] about Sports Psychology Podcast: Helping Athletes Overcome Tentative Performances
Sports Psychology Podcast: Self-Talk Strategies to Boost Confidence
In this week's sports psychology podcast, Dr. Cohn helps a boxer improve his confidence with his self-talk. Sports psychology expert, Dr. Patrick Cohn helps athletes boost their confidence and tust to perform their best in competition. Dr. Cohn answers the following mental game question: "One of my boxing students is struggling. If someone has anxiety, very low self- confidence, no trust in … [Read more...] about Sports Psychology Podcast: Self-Talk Strategies to Boost Confidence
Golf Psychology Video: Letting Go of Mistakes
Keeping Your Composure And Letting Go of Mistakes Do you get upset with poor shots and your frustration causes more mistakes that leads to a string of bogeys? Many of my students struggle with their composure after hitting bad shots. Hitting a bad shot is not what’s costly to your score… A poor reaction to a bad shot is costly because it can lead to more mistakes – due to frustration – and … [Read more...] about Golf Psychology Video: Letting Go of Mistakes
Golf Psychology Video: Do You Think About the Target?
What to Focus on in Golf I just posted my latest golf psychology video. Do you focus on where you want to hit the ball or where you don't want to hit the ball? I know many of my students focus too much on where not to hit the ball... “Don’t miss the green and have a tough up and down,” they might be thinking. If you do this, you focus too much on avoiding mistakes or have an avoidance … [Read more...] about Golf Psychology Video: Do You Think About the Target?