{"id":3668,"date":"2015-01-15T16:04:17","date_gmt":"2015-01-15T16:04:17","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.peaksports.com\/sports_psychology_blog\/?p=3668"},"modified":"2025-06-11T07:20:23","modified_gmt":"2025-06-11T11:20:23","slug":"how-to-get-out-of-your-own-way-and-excel","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.peaksports.com\/sports-psychology-blog\/how-to-get-out-of-your-own-way-and-excel\/","title":{"rendered":"How To Get Out Of Your Own Way And Excel"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"600\" height=\"300\" src=\"https:\/\/www.peaksports.com\/sports-psychology-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/01\/over-thinking.jpg\" alt=\"Over Thinking\" class=\"wp-image-5925\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.peaksports.com\/sports-psychology-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/01\/over-thinking.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.peaksports.com\/sports-psychology-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/01\/over-thinking-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=\"Do_You_Over_Think_In_Competition\"><\/span>Do You Over Think In Competition?<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-to-get-out-of-your-own-way-and-excel\/#Do_You_Over_Think_In_Competition\" >Do You Over Think In Competition?<\/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-to-get-out-of-your-own-way-and-excel\/#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-3\" href=\"https:\/\/www.peaksports.com\/sports-psychology-blog\/how-to-get-out-of-your-own-way-and-excel\/#The_Composed_Athlete\" >The Composed Athlete<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n\n\n\n\n<p>Do you get in your own way when you compete? This is a common challenge for many athletes we coach on the <strong>mental<\/strong> <strong>game<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>One way you (or your athletes) might get in your own way mentally is when you over think in competition, such as when you over think how to play the game technically.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>How did you perform in those competitions?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Athletes who over think during competition have a hard time getting into the flow of the game. They over analyze every step as it unfolds&#8230;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>For example, you might self-talk your way through the game\u2026 You thought, \u201cI have to remember to _____\u201d or \u201cMy opponent is doing this, so I need to do that.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>With every skill, shot, run, or pass, you evaluate if it was right or wrong\u2026 Any mistake you made, you harshly criticized yourself and your level of play.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Over-thinking, over-analysis, and being judgmental are performance killers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Over-thinking interferes with doing or getting into the flow of your game.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Try this experiment: give yourself detailed instructions as you are attempting a skill in practice at a fast speed&#8230;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Chances are you will not perform the skill effortlessly, which should be the objective.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>You want skills to be repetitious in training, trust your training, then let the performance unfold in competitions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Maggie Connor, member of the 1992 US Olympic Ski Team and two-time World Pro Champion, was interviewed by me in regards to over-thinking performance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Connor, Managing Director of Connor Training International, provides world-class training and services to inspire and train athletes to excel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Connor has worked with individuals from Olympians, Major League Baseball players, National Football League players, Pro Tennis players, National skiers, cyclists, runners, triathletes, golfers and wind-surfers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>COHN<\/strong>: <em>&#8220;What are the biggest challenges your athletes face rising to the next level of competition?&#8221;<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>CONNOR<\/strong>: <em>&#8220;For the most part, it is [athletes] getting out of their own way. For many athletes, if they are stagnated at the same level, they are very much in their own head. My job is to help them get out of their head and to get into just what they are doing and <strong>relax<\/strong> and do it.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>Because you would not be at this level if you were not exceptionally talented\u2026 When they get into trouble is when they get into their own head and over-think the process.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>Once again, my job is to get [athletes] back to the core of why did you get into this in the first place, what is it that you love about it? Let\u2019s <strong>focus<\/strong> on that and allow your body to do what it knows how to do.&#8221;<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Not only does Connor highlight the problems with over-thinking but offers potential solutions as well.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Try these tips to get our of your own way:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Tip #1: Trust your abilities when you compete. Shut off the active mind and allow your skills to happen from memory. Develop well-learned skills in practice first. Then when you compete, know that all your practice is complete and it&#8217;s time to perform.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Tip #2: Become the child-like athlete. Remind yourself of the fun you had in your sport when you were young&#8230; That&#8217;s the reason why you chose your sport.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>-For Peaksports Members- Listen to the full interview with Maggie Connor here:<strong> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.peaksports.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" title=\"Peaksports Member Network\">Peaksports Member Network<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Successful athletes have learned to stop performance anxiety and play with ultimate composure. We&#8217;ve created<strong> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.peaksports.com\/the-composed-athlete-cd-program\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" title=\"The Composed Athlete\">The Composed Athlete Workbook Program<\/a> <\/strong>to help you do this.<\/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-over-thinking-sabotages-athletes-performance\/\"><strong>How Over Thinking Sabotages Athletes\u2019 Performance<\/strong><\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.peaksports.com\/sports-psychology-blog\/how-to-stop-overthinking-in-competition\/\"><strong>How to Stop Overthinking in Competition<\/strong><\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.peaksports.com\/sports-psychology-blog\/how-to-overcome-what-if-thinking\/\"><strong>How to Overcome \u201cWhat-If\u201d Thinking<\/strong><\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-normal-font-size\" id=\"block-5726d13f-f715-4ca4-8813-2f8a9ebd8bc3\">*Subscribe to\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/podcasts.apple.com\/us\/podcast\/sports-psychology-podcast-by-peaksports-com\/id152566009\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><strong>The Sports Psychology Podcast<\/strong><\/a>\u00a0on iTunes<br>*Subscribe to <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/open.spotify.com\/show\/0ynyaalKxbnNmsoeL8gF5X?si=8224669de9b3435b\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">The Sports Psychology Podcast<\/a> <\/strong>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\/2010\/03\/composed-athlete-small-1.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-4434\" style=\"width:200px\"\/><\/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>Do You Over Think In Competition? Do you get in your own way when you compete? This is a common challenge for many athletes we coach on the mental game. One way you (or your athletes) might get in your own way mentally is when you over think in competition, such as when you over think how to &#8230; <a title=\"How To Get Out Of Your Own Way And Excel\" class=\"read-more\" href=\"https:\/\/www.peaksports.com\/sports-psychology-blog\/how-to-get-out-of-your-own-way-and-excel\/\" aria-label=\"Read more about How To Get Out Of Your Own Way And Excel\">Sport Psychology Article&#8230;<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":5924,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[25,5,142],"tags":[293,318],"class_list":["post-3668","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-concentration-in-sports","category-mental-game-of-sports","category-sports-psychology-tips","tag-concentration-in-sports","tag-confidence-in-sports"],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t<!-- All in One SEO Pro 4.9.5.2 - aioseo.com -->\n\t<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Do you get in your own way when you compete and perform to your ability? 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