Athletes who Feel Pressure This is a question each athlete needs to ask themselves. You can think of many triggers that can add to the pressure of competitive sports. For some athletes, the feel pressure from excessively high expectations for themselves. Some athletes feel added pressure due to their perfectionist mentality. Some athletes feel pressure to perform due to perceived … [Read more...]
How to Cope With Mistakes Like This Pro
Letting Go of Mistakes in Competition Every athlete makes mistakes... It's part of sports. Think of how many times you have seen an elite figure skater trip over their own skate, under-rotate on an easy jump, or forget their program? Or a veteran baseball player get caught taking a fastball right over the plate with the bases loaded, get picked off at first base, or forget how many outs there … [Read more...]
Control Your Emotions When Returning From an Injury
Your Mental Toughness and Returning From an Injury Coming back from athletic injury is an experience laden with intense emotions... An injured athlete returning to competition will run through the gamut of both positive and negative emotions: Fear – Fear of re-injury is the most common emotion of injured athletes. The thoughts of re-injury or how the injured body part may hold up can be … [Read more...]
Don’t Talk Yourself Into Service Miss in Volleyball
Overcoming Pressure to Preform in Games Have you ever missed a crucial serve? Like one of the "deadly sins" of serving? A first point, a game point, after a time-out, after a teammate misses their serve? Serving under pressure, especially in a position like game point, can be extremely difficult for volleyball players. You might feel like the spotlight is on you and everyone is watching … [Read more...]
Coping With Teammates Who Make Mistakes
Focusing on The Controllables in Volleyball Have you ever played with a teammate who continued to make errors? Did this frustrate you as a player? Do you expect your teammates to play perfectly and not make mistakes? I was a 6-rotation outside throughout my volleyball career. I remember playing with a setter one time in high school who regularly got called for doubles and rarely pushed the … [Read more...]
How to Maintain Focus Through a Volleyball Match
What Should You Focus on During a Volleyball Match? Do you or your athletes struggle to maintain focus, or concentration through an entire match? Do you get thrown off or distracted with momentum shifts? Is it difficult for you to let go of mistakes or past points and play one touch at a time? These can all be considered distractions for a volleyball player. Some other distractions that … [Read more...]
Staying Calm When You’re Passed by Other Racers
How to Stay Composed When Passed in a Triathlon Does this scenario sound familiar... Sometimes, when other racers pass me during a triathlon, it messes with my head and I start feeling like everyone will pass me. How can I maintain my cool when I am passed by other racers? This is a common concern for many triathletes... "Being caught" or "being passed" during a race can have a profound … [Read more...]
How to Overcome Adversity in Sports
Developing A Winning Mindset to Overcome Adversity Which of the following statements is more indicative of who you are as an athlete? When the going gets tough, I get excited... Or when the going gets tough, I feel defeated? The attitude you adopt or the mindset you choose is the ultimate determining factor as to how well you face adversity as an athlete... and you WILL face some adversity … [Read more...]
One Strategy Russell Wilson Uses to Stay Mentally Sharp
How to Stay Poised During Competition Do you or your athletes perform well in pressure situations? When the heat is on do you rise to the occasion or crumble under the pressure? What makes some athletes perform at a high level during the heat of competition? Peak performers have the knack of staying calm when the pressure mounts. Poise and composure allows champions to perform to their … [Read more...]
How Mental Toughness Helps Athletes Cope with Adversity
Using Adversity to Improve Mental Toughness So much has been written about mental toughness... The need for athletes to be mentally tough and how it can help an athlete win the big game... How mental toughness can help an athlete overcome adversity... How mental toughness can get an athlete to the next level in their career. As an athlete, you have probably heard countless stories of … [Read more...]