{"id":15693,"date":"2023-06-01T15:31:36","date_gmt":"2023-06-01T19:31:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.peaksports.com\/sports-psychology-blog\/?p=15693"},"modified":"2025-06-04T05:07:28","modified_gmt":"2025-06-04T09:07:28","slug":"how-you-can-become-a-peak-performer-in-sports","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.peaksports.com\/sports-psychology-blog\/how-you-can-become-a-peak-performer-in-sports\/","title":{"rendered":"How You Can Become A Peak Performer in Sports"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"600\" height=\"300\" src=\"https:\/\/www.peaksports.com\/sports-psychology-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/peak-athlete.jpg\" alt=\"How You Can Become A Peak Performer in Sports\" class=\"wp-image-15694\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.peaksports.com\/sports-psychology-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/peak-athlete.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.peaksports.com\/sports-psychology-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/peak-athlete-300x150.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_Makes_an_Elite_Athlete_%E2%80%9CElite%E2%80%9D\"><\/span>What Makes an Elite Athlete \u201cElite\u201d? <span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2><div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_82_2 ez-toc-wrap-center counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-transparent ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">Article Table of Contents<\/p>\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><a href=\"#\" class=\"ez-toc-pull-right ez-toc-btn ez-toc-btn-xs ez-toc-btn-default ez-toc-toggle\" aria-label=\"Toggle Table of Content\"><span class=\"ez-toc-js-icon-con\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #0769bf;color:#0769bf\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #0769bf;color:#0769bf\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/www.peaksports.com\/sports-psychology-blog\/how-you-can-become-a-peak-performer-in-sports\/#What_Makes_an_Elite_Athlete_%E2%80%9CElite%E2%80%9D\" >What Makes an Elite Athlete \u201cElite\u201d?<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/www.peaksports.com\/sports-psychology-blog\/how-you-can-become-a-peak-performer-in-sports\/#Among_the_mental_skills_of_elite_athletes_that_you_can_develop_are_the_following\" >Among the mental skills of elite athletes that you can develop are the following:<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/www.peaksports.com\/sports-psychology-blog\/how-you-can-become-a-peak-performer-in-sports\/#Three_key_elements_to_develop_your_mental_skills_are\" >Three key elements to develop your mental skills are:<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/www.peaksports.com\/sports-psychology-blog\/how-you-can-become-a-peak-performer-in-sports\/#Related_Sports_Psychology_Articles\" >Related Sports Psychology Articles<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/www.peaksports.com\/sports-psychology-blog\/how-you-can-become-a-peak-performer-in-sports\/#The_Confident_Athlete\" >The Confident Athlete<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n\n\n\n\n<p>Elite athletes aren\u2019t elite just because they are talented. Plenty of talented athletes have not lived up to their potential.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Do elite athletes just have better coaching? Again, many athletes have risen to the top without the best coaching. Likewise, many talented athletes have elite coaches and still consistently under perform.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Elite athletes are peak performers because they are mentally tough and make things happen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Elite athletes experience similar circumstances as their counterparts, such as slumps, mistakes, and losses. In addition, elite athletes aren\u2019t superheroes. They don\u2019t always have their \u2018A\u2019 game.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>They get tired and frustrated. Sometimes, elite athletes, like all athletes, want to skip practice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>* Elite ballplayers go through stretches where they can\u2019t get on base. They respond by looking for an answer, taking extra time in the batting cages, and working on their swing mechanics with their hitting coaches.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>* Elite basketball players miss shots with the game on the line. Yet they work to manage pressure, maintain confidence and focus late in games. They file away misses and want the ball in their hands the next game.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>* Elite swimmers and track athletes miss national cuts early in the season but respond by refining their mechanics and continuing to push themselves in training sessions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>* Elite tennis players lose to lower-ranked opponents, but they learn from their mistakes and mentally reset for their next match.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In all these cases, elite athletes DO extra. They take action by working on their mental and physical games. They find a way around obstacles and keep grinding through the long season.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>They know they can turn things around and take personal responsibility for their performances.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>These solutions give elite athletes a sense of control over their athletic destinies and help them maximize their potential.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The things that help make an elite athlete \u201celite\u201d are not an inborn quality but a combination of mental skills and decisive actions.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Those same mental skills are available to you and help you consistently overcome adversity to perform at your peak.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Among_the_mental_skills_of_elite_athletes_that_you_can_develop_are_the_following\"><\/span>Among the mental skills of elite athletes that you can develop are the following:<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>* High stable confidence<br>* Laser-focus<br>* Emotional management<br>* Visualization<br>* Goal setting<br>* Performing under pressure<br>* Dealing with mistakes<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In his first season with the New York Mets, elite pitcher Justin Verlander has been trying to find his stride. Over his 18-year career, Verlander has been one of the most consistent and dominating pitchers in the MLB, racking up 246 wins.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>However, Verlander has started the season slow with a 2-2 record, and the early-season favorite Mets are 20-23 over the first 43 games in the 2023 MLB season.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Verlander admitted to being frustrated, but he is not giving in to frustration.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>VERLANDER<\/strong>: \u201cEverybody\u2019s frustrated. We expect to be better. I expect to be better. I think this entire organization expects to be better. There\u2019s only one thing left to do, and that\u2019s put your head down, work hard and find your way out of this slump.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Like all elite athletes, Verlander is committed to taking action to turn his season around.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>VERLANDER<\/strong>: \u201cBut I think we\u2019re past the point of waiting for that to happen. We need to make it happen.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Talent is important, but mental toughness and strong mental skills are necessary for peak performance, and all athletes can learn those skills.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Three_key_elements_to_develop_your_mental_skills_are\"><\/span>Three key elements to develop your mental skills are:<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Commitment <\/strong>\u2013 You must be willing to work and dedicate time to developing your mental game.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Planning <\/strong>\u2013 You need to know how you can learn mental skills and the resources available to you.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Practice <\/strong>\u2013 Mere knowledge about the mental aspects of peak performance won\u2019t improve your game. You must work to develop your mental game and apply those skills to competitions.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity is-style-dots\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"block-979ef383-5bc7-43ee-b8f9-249663ca1a6c\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Related_Sports_Psychology_Articles\"><\/span>Related Sports Psychology Articles<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul id=\"block-05642731-8752-4dbf-9c18-5cc4d276e821\" class=\"wp-block-list has-normal-font-size\">\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.peaksports.com\/sports-psychology-blog\/how-elite-athletes-prove-themselves-at-the-next-level\/\">How Elite Athletes Prove Themselves at the Next Level<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.peaksports.com\/sports-psychology-blog\/how-elite-athletes-combat-worry\/\">How Elite Athletes Combat Worry<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.peaksports.com\/sports-psychology-blog\/get-the-mental-edge-train-like-an-elite-athlete\/\">Get the Mental Edge. Train Like an Elite Athlete.<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-normal-font-size\" id=\"block-5726d13f-f715-4ca4-8813-2f8a9ebd8bc3\">*Subscribe to&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/podcasts.apple.com\/us\/podcast\/sports-psychology-podcast-by-peaksports-com\/id152566009\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">The Sports Psychology Podcast<\/a>&nbsp;on iTunes<br>*Subscribe to <a href=\"https:\/\/open.spotify.com\/show\/0ynyaalKxbnNmsoeL8gF5X?si=8224669de9b3435b\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">The Sports Psychology Podcast<\/a> on Spotify<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-normal-font-size\" id=\"block-281f5afb-980b-4c71-9aa0-11d606b5f7c9\"><strong>Download a&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.peaksports.com\/mental-toughness-report-athletes\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">free sports psychology report<\/a>&nbsp;to improve your mental game!<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-normal-font-size\" id=\"block-94138e75-d591-4645-bb1d-212cf57a8841\"><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.peaksports.com\/sport-psychology-training-athletes\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Learn more about our one-on-one mental game coaching.<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-css-opacity is-style-dots\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"The_Confident_Athlete\"><\/span>The Confident Athlete <span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"alignright size-full is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"225\" height=\"250\" src=\"https:\/\/www.peaksports.com\/sports-psychology-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/confident-athlete-audio250.jpg\" alt=\"The Confident Athlete Audio and Workbook Program\" class=\"wp-image-19341\" style=\"width:180px\"\/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>\u201cThe Confident Athlete\u201d consists of 2 audio programs that include 14 days of confidence fueling exercises and a simple to follow workbook that guides you through the 14 days, helps you apply the strategies, and customizes the exercises to your personal needs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Let me help you put a <strong>stop to the confidence leak<\/strong>. You can learn to have greater levels of confidence in competition than you do in practice by identifying the specific ways you undermine your own confidence and <strong>how to convert your practice confidence into COMPETITIVE CONFIDENCE<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cThe Confident Athlete\u201d is a ground-breaking system to teach you how to think like a champion and have ultimate self-confidence every time you step on the playing field, court, track, or course. The confident athletes was <strong>developed for any athlete \u2013 junior to professional \u2013<\/strong>that wants to gain confidence. However, coaches and sports parents can learn how to teach others to perform with ultimate confidence. Use my program if you want to bust a slump or just wanting higher or more consistent levels of self-confidence.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"gb-container gb-container-0b39f7aa\">\n\n<a class=\"gb-button gb-button-a74417ae gb-button-text\" href=\"https:\/\/www.peaksports.com\/the-confident-athlete-cd-program\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">GET DETAILS<\/a>\n\n\n\n<a class=\"gb-button gb-button-461ab57c gb-button-text\" href=\"https:\/\/shop.peaksports.com\/collections\/the-confident-athlete-series-digital-download\/products\/the-confident-athlete-digital\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">BUY NOW<\/a>\n\n<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>What Makes an Elite Athlete \u201cElite\u201d? Elite athletes aren\u2019t elite just because they are talented. Plenty of talented athletes have not lived up to their potential. Do elite athletes just have better coaching? Again, many athletes have risen to the top without the best coaching. Likewise, many talented athletes have elite coaches and still consistently under perform. Elite &#8230; <a title=\"How You Can Become A Peak Performer in Sports\" class=\"read-more\" href=\"https:\/\/www.peaksports.com\/sports-psychology-blog\/how-you-can-become-a-peak-performer-in-sports\/\" aria-label=\"Read more about How You Can Become A Peak Performer in Sports\">Sport Psychology Article&#8230;<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":15695,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[142],"tags":[246,250],"class_list":["post-15693","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-sports-psychology-tips","tag-mental-toughness","tag-sports-psychology"],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t<!-- All in One SEO Pro 4.9.5.2 - aioseo.com -->\n\t<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Talent is important, but mental toughness and strong mental skills are necessary for peak performance, and all athletes can learn those skills. Read for more.\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Patrick Cohn\"\/>\n\t<meta name=\"keywords\" content=\"mental toughness,sports psychology articles\" \/>\n\t<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.peaksports.com\/sports-psychology-blog\/how-you-can-become-a-peak-performer-in-sports\/\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"generator\" content=\"All in One SEO Pro (AIOSEO) 4.9.5.2\" \/>\n\t\t<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n\t\t<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Sports Psychology Articles | Sport Psychology Articles for Athletes, Coaches, and Sports Parents\" \/>\n\t\t<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n\t\t<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"How Athletes Become A Peak Performer | Peak Performance\" \/>\n\t\t<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Talent is important, but mental toughness and strong mental skills are necessary for peak performance, and all athletes can learn those skills. 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