What Happens When you Blow a Lead Late
Have you ever had a competition where you imploded towards the end after having a comfortable lead?
Performance meltdowns can have a deep imprint on an athlete’s mind, especially when victory seems imminent. Memories of these catastrophic losses create intense emotions that some athletes find difficult to move past.
After such an event, these athletes tend to shut down because dealing with these emotions is overwhelming. So those emotions are buried deep inside.
Unfortunately, those memories and emotions often resurface when an athlete faces similar competitive circumstances. Let’s look at a couple of scenarios from different sports.
Scenario #1: A baseball team has a three-run lead in the ninth inning in game one of a playoff series. The manager brings in the closer, who manages to strike out the first two hitters. The pitcher walks the next batter and slowly starts losing control of his pitches, throwing some in the dirt or over the catcher’s head.
He walks the next two batters to load the bases. Fearing another walk, he throws the first pitch straight over the plate, and the batter drives it over the centerfield wall for a grand slam and the first loss of the series. This meltdown haunts the pitcher for the rest of the series.
Scenario #2: A gymnast competed at a national championship in the all-around. However, the week prior, she had a nasty landing on the vault. She began the national meet by nailing her floor and beam routines. After two events, she was comfortably in first place.
As she prepared for her vault, memories of the previous week came flooding back. She felt so rattled that she was practically frozen before her run-up.
These scenarios happen in all sports, and the memories of these events can haunt athletes. The memory of being so close to victory and watching it slip away can lead to doubts and performance anxiety in similar high-stakes moments.
Failure to process the competitive event can cause you to carry fear of a repeat performance in your next competition without realizing it.
The key is to learn from past events, so you can improve and move forward. As the saying goes, “Those who do not learn from history are doomed to repeat it.”
In Game 1 of the 2025 NBA Conference Finals, the New York Knicks had a nine-point lead over the Indiana Pacers with 59 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter. Unfortunately, the Knicks collapsed towards the end of the game and allowed the Pacers to tie the game at the buzzer.
The Pacers went on to win in overtime, 138-135. For the Knicks, their game deteriorated quickly as the team was plagued with defensive mistakes, turnovers, and missed opportunities.
After the game, Knicks guard OG Anunoby put the game in perspective and talked about the importance of focusing forward.
ANUNOBY: “The series just started. Just one game, just watch the film, learn from it, and go from there.”
Knicks small forward Josh Hart highlighted how learning from the game will help the Knicks avoid repeating the same mistakes.
HART: “I feel like defensively, we let off the gas. Intensity and [physicality] weren’t there. Offensively, we were playing slower, a little stagnant. And looked like we were playing not to lose. We’ve got to make sure we don’t make that mistake again.”
Performance collapses can leave long-lasting imprints on an athlete’s mindset, especially when defeat comes when victory was in sight. If left unprocessed, memories of meltdowns can quietly sabotage future performances.
However, by recognizing the cause of the meltdown and identifying strategies to prevent similar mistakes, you can build resilience, develop stronger coping mechanisms, and regain confidence in pressure situations.
The goal is not forgetting what happened, but learning from it and using it to grow your game.
After a tough loss, take time to reflect. What happened during the competition? What can you do differently or better in the next competition? What physical, mental, technical, or tactical skills can improve your game?Afterwards, spend time visualizing yourself implementing your adjustments effectively and successfully. These two steps help you process your emotions and give you confidence in your ability to lift your game in future competitions.
Related Sports Psychology Article
- Mental Game Strategies to Overcome Defeat
- Team Mindset and the Next-Man-Up Mentality
- Mental Toughness in Poor Weather Conditions
The Composed Athlete (Digital Download)
“The Composed Athlete” audio and workbook program helps you gain a competitive edge by improving your composure in competition. Learn the best ways to let go of mistakes and overcome frustration and dwelling.
“My son Jake has struggled with composure for as long as I can remember. He is doing the Composed Athlete program and is about half-way through. He had the biggest, most stressful wrestling tournament of his season this past weekend. I have never seen him demonstrate such composure and sportsmanship -ever. I was so happy I was fighting back tears. It’s been a long and frustrating road. I am so thankful for your program.”
~Laura Grogan