Sports Psychology Articles

Sports psychology articles for athletes and performers to improve mental toughness in sports

How to Start Firing on All Cylinders

Shooter's Mindset

Learn How to Best Prepare for Competition Do you start competitions slow? Some athletes start slowly in competitions because of a lack of pregame preparation. These athletes go through the motions in pregame and believe they can flip the switch once the competition starts. Unfortunately, this mindset at the start of competition does not help you start well. … Sport Psychology Article…

Improve Self-Talk to Reach Your Peak Performance

adversity in sports

Your Internal Talk and Peak Performance Do you tend to be excessively self-critical? After every mistake, error, or bad game, do you put yourself down? Excessive self-criticism leads to fractured confidence, low motivation, and underperformance. Constant self-criticism is a loop: bad performance… excessive self-criticism… low confidence and motivation… poor performance… Breaking the cycle starts with changing your self-talk. … Sport Psychology Article…

How to Become a Clutch Athlete

How Pro Athletes Improve Their Mental Game

Overcoming Underperformance for Athletes How well do you perform when your back is up against the wall or when you are playing an elimination game? Some athletes perform better when there is a sense of urgency or perceived pressure. We often call these athletes clutch in those situations. However, are all athletes who play better when their backs … Sport Psychology Article…

Do You Seek Instant Gratification or Trust the Process?

Athletes Who are Superstars

The Instant Gratification Trap & its Negative Impact Do you become frustrated when you don’t see results immediately? Sometimes, athletes expect too much, too quickly. These athletes believe increased efforts will have an immediate impact on their results. For example, a baseball pitcher spends a lot of time working with a pitching coach to add another pitch to … Sport Psychology Article…

Overcome the Imposter Syndrome

Defining Athletic Success on Your Terms

Improve Your Mental Game Have you ever wondered, “Can I compete at this level? Do I have what it takes? Everyone is so much better than me”? Even though some athletes achieve a certain level, they doubt their ability to compete at the next level. At the very foundation of confidence is the question, “Do I belong here?” … Sport Psychology Article…