How to Use Pregame "Nerves" to your Advantage Many athletes have misconceptions about the effects of pregame “nerves” before competition sport. *Misconception 1: Elite athletes are NEVER nervous. *Misconception 2: It's the total lack of nerves that cause elite athletes to be successful. *Misconception 3: Elite athletes are born with the capacity to remain 100 percent calm even in the … [Read more...] about Pregame Nerves Facts and Fiction
Confidence in sports
Athletes Who React Poorly to Criticism
How to Have Stable Confidence Do you buy into the negativity from other people? Do you lose confidence when others critique your game? Just this week, I received a message from a soccer player who said: "I'm often challenged mentally during practice if a teammate tells me how I can't do a certain thing, such as properly marking my opponent. I end up questioning my ability to do so, … [Read more...] about Athletes Who React Poorly to Criticism
Are You Good Enough to Start on Your Team, but Don’t?
How to be Mentally Prepared on the Bench One of the most challenging situations for athletes is knowing you're good enough to start, be on a relay team, get more playing time, or make a travel squad yet you are not given an opportunity by the coach. Not getting a chance to contribute to a team can erode confidence. And confidence is the very thing you need when it's time to show others you … [Read more...] about Are You Good Enough to Start on Your Team, but Don’t?
How to Stay Confident Despite Obstacles
Why Stable Confidence is So Important Confidence is important for athletes… But confidence in the face of adversity is hallmark of champions. When having success, high confidence is much easier but, when obstacles appear, keeping your confidence high becomes more difficult. For example, the baseball pitcher who was awarded the MVP for two consecutive years but gives up game-winner home … [Read more...] about How to Stay Confident Despite Obstacles
How to Thrive as an Underdog in Sports
The Underdog Mindset in Sports The definition of underdog is a team or individual that has a small chance of winning a competition. Here are a few examples when you may be considered the underdog: Playing against an undefeated team this seasonCompeting against higher ranked or seeded opponentPlaying against a team that you have never beatenCompeting against physically stronger or faster … [Read more...] about How to Thrive as an Underdog in Sports
Drought or Slump? Getting Back on Track
Maintain Confidence during a Performance Drought A drought or a slump… that is the question. The distinction between these two terms will determine how quickly you break through when you are not having your best athletic performances. When athletes label a couple of bad performances as a “slump,” they imply that it as a long-lasting problem. These athletes enter a competition with the … [Read more...] about Drought or Slump? Getting Back on Track
Mental Game & Confidence in Basketball
Do You Struggle With Confidence After a Bad Warmup? In “Sports Psychology Sessions with Doc,” Dr. Patrick Cohn answers sports psychology questions from athletes, parents and coaches. Visit Sports Psychology for Athletes at Peaksports.com and click on contact us to submit your mental game questions for Dr. Cohn to answer in his mental game videocast or podcast. Do you struggle early in the game … [Read more...] about Mental Game & Confidence in Basketball
Figure Skating Practice, Preparation, and Confidence
Mental Preparation in Figure Skating Every skater has heard the phrase, "Practice makes perfect." In reality, mostly all skaters have some degree of doubt regarding this mentality. The ultimate truth of the matter is that "practice makes preparation." For example, if you practice landing a clean salchow jump 20 times in practice, 5 days a week, that is 100 practice jumps over the course of a … [Read more...] about Figure Skating Practice, Preparation, and Confidence
How to Not Be Over Confident in Competition
Do You Underestimate Your Opponents? Have you ever entered a competition where you were the overwhelming favorite to win and just tanked? You can look to many examples in sports when top-ranked athletes or winning teams suffer an upset loss at the hands of a weaker opponent. Despite many cautionary tales, many top-ranked athletes still fall into the "under-estimation" trap when facing a … [Read more...] about How to Not Be Over Confident in Competition
Athletes Who Are Self-Critical
How to Grow Your Confidence Without Excessive Self-Criticism Are you happy with where you are with your game? Most athletes would answer "no" because they want to achieve more. After all, the goal of every athlete is to achieve as much of their athletic potential as possible. Some athletes think the best way to improve is to never be satisfied with a performance. These athletes engage … [Read more...] about Athletes Who Are Self-Critical