Letting Go of Expectations Have you ever been so frustrated with a lack of improvement and not reaching your expectations that training and practicing just doesn’t seem worth the time and effort? At times you feel like walking away from competing just because you feel so burned out or lack enthusiasm? Sports can be demanding, but some athletes increase those demands by putting excessive … [Read more...] about How to Avoid Burnout and Dropout in Sports
Fear of Failure
How to Stop Playing too Tight in Basketball
Do you need to loosen up during Basketball games? 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 throughout the … [Read more...] about How to Stop Playing too Tight in Basketball
How Elite Triathletes Overcome Failure
How to Reinterpret Failure in Triathlons How can I overcome failure? Failure is something many triathletes struggle with... But what if failure was more a friend than a foe? It seems incomprehensible to view failure as a friend. For a triathlete, failure can be quite devastating.... When you dedicate a huge part of your life to a sport, it is often difficult when you don’t see positive … [Read more...] about How Elite Triathletes Overcome Failure
Why Playing Safe Doesn’t Help You Win
Playing Aggressive to Keep Your Lead Playing safe rarely works out for athletes. Yet many athletes adopt a cautious mindset when leading late in a competition. For example, a football team has dominated the opposing team for three plus quarters and has a 14-point lead with four minutes remaining... Instead of sticking to their offensive game plan, they play prevent defense, allowing the … [Read more...] about Why Playing Safe Doesn’t Help You Win
Athletes Who Focus on Avoiding Mistakes
Sports Psychology Case Study Do you or your athletes focus too much on avoiding mistakes? This happens a lot with athletes who have a fear of failure... You might think that trying to avoid mistakes or have a mistake-free game is the way to go, but it backfires for most athletes. When you try to avoid mistakes, you: 1. Focus more on mistakes 2. Think too much about outcomes 3. Perform … [Read more...] about Athletes Who Focus on Avoiding Mistakes
Strategies to Help Athletes with Fear of Failure (New Research)
Fear Of Failure In Sports Are you afraid to mess up during a competition? Do you perform well in practice but can't seem to put it together during competition? Most likely, you are experiencing fear of failure. Fear of failure is the number one mental game issue we see today. Fear of failure can have many causes: Fear of the coaches' disapproval Fear of letting down your team or … [Read more...] about Strategies to Help Athletes with Fear of Failure (New Research)
6 Fears That Destroy Confidence for Athletes
Are You (or your athletes) Afraid to Fail? More and more athletes I work with on the mental game come to me with fear of failure. Fear and fear of failure is a constant source of stress or anxiety that sabotages athletes' mental game and performance. What Is Fear of Failure for Athletes? In sports, most of the fear athletes have is based on their perception of the importance of a … [Read more...] about 6 Fears That Destroy Confidence for Athletes
Athletes Who Avoid Mistakes
Fear of Failure One of the signs of fear of failure is an athlete who worries too much about making mistakes. If you (or your athletes) do this, you perform cautiously. In this mindset, athletes try to avoid mistakes and not lose. You're stuck in what we call a "fear driven mindset." The golfer tries not to hit the ball in the water. The skater avoids falling on her jumps. The tennis player … [Read more...] about Athletes Who Avoid Mistakes
Afraid of Disappointing Others In Golf?
Dr. Patrick Cohn, golf psychology expert and author of the "Golfer's Mental Edge" CD program, teaches amateur to tour professional golfers how to improve their mental game of golf using golf psychology strategies developed over the last 20 years of his career. In this week's golf psychology session, mental game of golf expert and author of The Mental Game of Golf, Dr. Cohn, answers a question … [Read more...] about Afraid of Disappointing Others In Golf?
Choking Under Pressure In Golf
Dr. Patrick Cohn, golf psychology expert and author of the "Golfer's Mental Edge" CD program, teaches amateur to tour professional golfers how to improve their mental game of golf using golf psychology strategies developed over the last 20 years of his career. In this week's golf psychology session, mental game of golf expert and author of The Mental Game of Golf, Dr. Cohn, answers a question … [Read more...] about Choking Under Pressure In Golf