Mental Performance Articles

Sports psychology articles to improve your mindset for sports and performance by Peak Performance Sports

How Top Athletes Improve Focus

How Top Athletes Improve Focus

How do you improve your focus in competitions? Focus improves by practicing focusing. Most athletes show up to competitions and try to force themselves to focus throughout the competition. This focusing strategy rarely, if ever, works. It is easy to focus early in competitions or when you are on top of your game. However, when the pressure builds, … Sport Psychology Article…

Pressure is Self-Induced by Expectations

Pressure is Self-Induced by Expectations

Expectations equals pressure for athletes… Pressure is a normal part of sports for athletes. In fact, you would be hard pressed to find athletes not make some type of reference about pressure they felt. As you become more competitive, pressure seems to increase and, for many athletes, that can be an overwhelming aspect of the athletic experience. Athletes … Sport Psychology Article…

Mindset and Closing Out a Game

Mindset and Closing Out a Game

Can you take your foot off the gas pedal during a competition? Ask yourself the following questions: There have been countless historic collapses in sports when teams had seemingly insurmountable leads yet found themselves on the losing end when the final buzzer sounded. You can probably think of a competition in your sport when a team collapsed after … Sport Psychology Article…

Mind Over Matter: Crafting a Winning Mental Game for Upset Victories

Mind Over Matter: Crafting a Winning Mental Game for Upset Victories

What is the most significant mental factor that helps athletes pull off the upset? Competing against a significantly higher-ranked opponent or a team with a better record is not just a physical challenge but also a mental challenge. The main mental ingredient in upset victories is belief. By belief, I’m not just talking about pie-in-the-sky belief, but belief … Sport Psychology Article…

How to Create a Roadmap for Mental Toughness

How to Create a Roadmap for Mental Toughness

Is mental toughness really “a thing”? Mental toughness is constantly mentioned in interviews after sporting events. For example, in practically every basketball conference tournament or NCAA tournament game, a commentator, coach, or player talks about mental toughness. But does mental toughness really exist? If so, what is it, and how can it be developed? Simply stated, mental toughness … Sport Psychology Article…

How Great Athletes Become Great

How Great Athletes Become Great

Have you ever wondered how great athletes became great? What elevated Patrick Mahomes, Lebron James, Alex Morgan, Sabrina Ionescu, and Novak Djokovic to great heights? Each of those athletes is talented. However, there are plenty of examples of gifted athletes who never lived up to their potential. In fact, every year during the NFL draft, commentators talk about … Sport Psychology Article…