Sports Psychology Articles for Athletes and Performers

How to Develop a Hungry Mindset in Sports

How to Cultivate a Hungry Mindset in Sports

How Can You Improve Your Mindset? Many athletes reach a point where they believe they have maxed their potential or can no longer improve. Some set career goals, and when they accomplish their objective, they become satisfied and lose their motivation to achieve more. For instance, maybe you set a goal of playing in college. Throughout high school, … 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 to Build Confidence Like the Pros

How to Build Confidence Like the Pros

How can you be a confident starter when you rarely start? Many athletes become highly anxious after their coach tells them they will start the next game when they have played minimal minutes. The fear of making mistakes or costing your team the game is overwhelming when you view yourself as the “weak link.” Imagine the following scenario. … Sport Psychology Article…

How to Respond After Being Benched

How to Respond After Being Benched

Athletes Want to Compete, Play, or Start But what happens when the athlete is benched or replaced in the starting lineup? Your attitude towards the situation will impact your response, motivation, and the message you send to your team. If you act out or talk poorly about your coach, you will cause tension within the team. Your effort … Sport Psychology Article…

How to Succeed Against the Odds in Sports

How to Succeed Against the Odds in Sports

What is the “It Factor” That Pushes Athletes? Athletes who triumph over their circumstances often do so because they refuse to see the odds as stacked against them. If you acknowledge something as impossible, you won’t work to make your dream a reality. For example, if a baseball pitcher thought it was impossible to become a starter, would … Sport Psychology Article…

How to Refocus After Making Mistakes

How to Refocus After Making Mistakes

Do You Have a Short Memory for Mistakes? “Memory” refers to the length of time an athlete dwells on mistakes. Some athletes have difficulty overcoming mistakes during a competition. They think about the mistake repeatedly, replaying the error in their mind. The mistake becomes a distraction, taking the focus off performing in the present moment. When an athlete’s … Sport Psychology Article…