{"id":15797,"date":"2023-09-07T12:54:58","date_gmt":"2023-09-07T16:54:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.peaksports.com\/sports-psychology-blog\/?p=15797"},"modified":"2025-06-03T08:22:27","modified_gmt":"2025-06-03T12:22:27","slug":"how-elite-athletes-develop-mental-skills","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.peaksports.com\/sports-psychology-blog\/how-elite-athletes-develop-mental-skills\/","title":{"rendered":"How Elite Athletes Develop Mental Skills"},"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\/09\/develop-mental-skills.jpg\" alt=\"How Elite Athletes Develop Mental Skills\" class=\"wp-image-15798\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.peaksports.com\/sports-psychology-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/develop-mental-skills.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.peaksports.com\/sports-psychology-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/develop-mental-skills-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=\"How_Can_You_Take_Your_Game_to_the_Next_Level\"><\/span>How Can You Take Your Game to the Next Level?<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-elite-athletes-develop-mental-skills\/#How_Can_You_Take_Your_Game_to_the_Next_Level\" >How Can You Take Your Game to the Next Level?<\/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-elite-athletes-develop-mental-skills\/#Lloyd_works_with_a_performance_coach_and_the_results_are_visible\" >Lloyd works with a performance coach, and the results are visible.<\/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-elite-athletes-develop-mental-skills\/#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-4\" href=\"https:\/\/www.peaksports.com\/sports-psychology-blog\/how-elite-athletes-develop-mental-skills\/#The_Composed_Athlete\" >The Composed Athlete<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n\n\n\n\n<p>Basketball players spend hours in the gym taking hundreds of shots.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Football players hit the weight room and bench, squat, and dead lift to build physical strength.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Golfers tweak their mechanics to find just the right swing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Extra practice and technique refinement help build an athlete&#8217;s <strong>confidence<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Yet, athletes often neglect one ingredient that is necessary for next-level performance, and that is the development of <strong>sound mental skills.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Developing technique and improving your physiological capacities lays the foundation of performance, but mental work is the element that takes your game higher.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>For example, spending extra time taking shots outside of basketball practice can help you feel more comfortable with your shot. However, physical training won&#8217;t prevent game-time frustration when you start a game missing your first ten shots.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>But, the mental skills of refocusing, relaxation, and emotional management will help you mentally recover, eliminate distractions, and help you <strong>rediscover your shot.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>All the weight training in the world will not help an offensive lineman who loses his cool after being flagged for several holding calls during a football game. Learning how to manage anger and communicate with his teammates will help him regain his poise and figure out a better blocking strategy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Constantly tweaking mechanics will not help a golfer manage anxiety during a major tournament. However, learning to handle pressure and stay confident throughout a round will help the golfer perform at their peak.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Next-level performance requires next-level training, and that training starts with mental training. While many athletes fall well short of their potential, you can gain an advantage by making mental training an equal focal point along with your physical training.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Jewell Loyd was selected first overall by the Seattle Storm in 2015. Lloyd&#8217;s consistency through nine WNBA seasons is not an accident. Llyod has made a conscious effort to build a solid mental game, and that mental game has been a difference-maker.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Lloyd_works_with_a_performance_coach_and_the_results_are_visible\"><\/span>Lloyd works with a performance coach, and the results are visible.<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>LLOYD<\/strong>:\u00a0<em>&#8220;I just wanted to unlock other aspects of my thinking and have a way to just figure out my thoughts, emotions and processing things. Talking with [my performance coach] allows me to stop whatever I&#8217;m doing for an hour a day to just think and be still, which is nice for someone like us. Athletes are always going, so it&#8217;s nice to reflect and really think about where you are and where you want to be and give yourself a little bit of grace.&#8221;<\/em>Llyod not only views her sessions as a benefit but also as a necessity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Remember, practice helps with confidence, but <strong>mental skills<\/strong> help you avoid or deal with potential sticking points that can occur throughout a long, grueling season.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Think back to some of your best athletic performances. Could stronger confidence, improved focus, or ability to manage pressure have helped you perform even better or contributed to playing at that level throughout the season?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Even elite, skilled athletes work on their mental skills. Mental skills take you from good to great and from great to elite.<\/p>\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-to-apply-mental-game-skills-to-competition-2\/\">How To Apply Mental Game Skills to Competition<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.peaksports.com\/sports-psychology-blog\/the-importance-of-mental-toughness\/\">The Importance of Mental Toughness<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.peaksports.com\/sports-psychology-blog\/have-trust-in-your-skills\/\">Have Trust in Your Skills<\/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_Composed_Athlete\"><\/span>The Composed 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\/composed-athlete-small.jpg\" alt=\"The Composed Athlete Workbook &amp; Audio\" class=\"wp-image-19327\" style=\"width:164px\"\/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>\u201cThe Composed Athlete\u201d is presented on<strong> 80-minute Audio Programs<\/strong> with a <strong>70-page step-by-step workbook<\/strong> that guides you through the program each day. It\u2019s a complete system for conditioning your mind to have <strong>maximum composure in competitio<\/strong>n.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201c<strong>The Composed Athlete<\/strong>\u201d was developed for <strong>any level coach, parent, or junior to professional athlete<\/strong> who wants to improve performance and gain a competitive edge. It does not matter if you are a fledgling junior athlete; or a seasoned professional, plagued with distractions; or you just wanting to learn how to improve your composure\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"gb-container gb-container-8fee86ee\">\n\n<a class=\"gb-button gb-button-df6f9eb5 gb-button-text\" href=\"https:\/\/www.peaksports.com\/the-composed-athlete-cd-program\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">GET DETAILS<\/a>\n\n\n\n<a class=\"gb-button gb-button-9e238db0 gb-button-text\" href=\"https:\/\/shop.peaksports.com\/collections\/the-confident-athlete-series-digital-download\/products\/the-composed-athlete-digital\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">BUY NOW<\/a>\n\n<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>How Can You Take Your Game to the Next Level? Basketball players spend hours in the gym taking hundreds of shots. Football players hit the weight room and bench, squat, and dead lift to build physical strength. Golfers tweak their mechanics to find just the right swing. Extra practice and technique refinement help build an athlete&#8217;s confidence. Yet, &#8230; <a title=\"How Elite Athletes Develop Mental Skills\" class=\"read-more\" href=\"https:\/\/www.peaksports.com\/sports-psychology-blog\/how-elite-athletes-develop-mental-skills\/\" aria-label=\"Read more about How Elite Athletes Develop Mental Skills\">Sport Psychology Article&#8230;<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":15799,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[142],"tags":[324,247],"class_list":["post-15797","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-sports-psychology-tips","tag-focus-in-sports","tag-mental-toughness-in-sports"],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t<!-- All in One SEO Pro 4.9.6.1 - aioseo.com -->\n\t<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Even elite athletes work on their mental skills. Mental skills take you from good to great and from great to elite. 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