{"id":4734,"date":"2015-12-23T14:27:59","date_gmt":"2015-12-23T14:27:59","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.peaksports.com\/sports_psychology_blog\/?p=4734"},"modified":"2025-06-10T07:53:42","modified_gmt":"2025-06-10T11:53:42","slug":"mental-game-tips-for-focusing-during-long-competitions","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.peaksports.com\/sports-psychology-blog\/mental-game-tips-for-focusing-during-long-competitions\/","title":{"rendered":"Mental Game Tips for Focusing During Long Competitions"},"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\/12\/competiton-focus.jpg\" alt=\"Competition Focus\" class=\"wp-image-5604\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.peaksports.com\/sports-psychology-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/12\/competiton-focus.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.peaksports.com\/sports-psychology-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/12\/competiton-focus-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=\"Focusing_During_Game_Time\"><\/span>Focusing During Game Time<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\/mental-game-tips-for-focusing-during-long-competitions\/#Focusing_During_Game_Time\" >Focusing During Game Time<\/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\/mental-game-tips-for-focusing-during-long-competitions\/#Most_athletes_do_have_the_ability_to_focus_well_but_they_struggle_in_longer_events\" >Most athletes do have the ability to focus well, but they struggle in longer events.<\/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\/mental-game-tips-for-focusing-during-long-competitions\/#Tips_for_Improving_your_Focus_in_Competition\" >Tips for Improving your Focus in Competition:<\/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\/mental-game-tips-for-focusing-during-long-competitions\/#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\/mental-game-tips-for-focusing-during-long-competitions\/#The_Focused_Athlete\" >The Focused Athlete<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Focusing<\/strong> is an important <strong>mental game<\/strong> skill, but it&#8217;s hard to maintain focus over a long period of time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>So many distractions can invade your mind during a long competition such as fatigue, starting off the competition poorly, your opponent\u2019s level of performance, etc.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>How many times has your <strong>focus<\/strong> wandered off during a long competition?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>You can give in to those distractions or choose to adjust.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Most_athletes_do_have_the_ability_to_focus_well_but_they_struggle_in_longer_events\"><\/span>Most athletes do have the ability to focus well, but they struggle in longer events.<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>The truth is <strong>focusing is a skill<\/strong> and you can improve. How can you learn to pay attention to the \u201cright things\u201d for longer periods of time?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Four-time Olympic cross-country skier Kikkan Randall competed in her first Olympics at the age of 19 and her longevity in the sport is proof of her strong mental game.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Randall competes in long races, the 10-kilometer, 15-kilometer and 30-kilometer events, and has a unique strategy to improve her <strong>focus<\/strong> for long periods of time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>RANDALL<\/strong>: <em>\u201cIf I break the longer distances into pieces in my mind, it becomes surprisingly manageable. The best reference I ever heard on how to race a (30-kilometer) was from a coach who said to think of it like a book. Every few kilometers you\u2019ll go through different chapters \u2014 some will be good chapters; some will be bad chapters. But through it all, you just think about getting to the next chapter.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In the early chapters of her races, Randall repeats a few cue words, \u201cquick,\u201d \u201cflow\u201d and \u201crelax\u201d to herself to keep herself in the groove.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>RANDALL<\/strong>: <em>\u201cI pick out a few key words before the race that if I feel like I\u2019m getting distracted or negative, I can remind myself of those key words&#8230; Just repeating a few of those words over and over again can bring my mind back.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In the middle of the race, Randall focuses on strategy which helps her push the pace. At the end of the race, Randall focuses on emptying the tank.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>RANDALL<\/strong>: <em>&#8220;It\u2019s definitely painful and you\u2019re focused and in the moment of what you\u2019re doing. But it\u2019s cool to get to those later stages of the race where you\u2019re really try to get every bit of your effort out.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>By breaking up the race into sections, you can improve your focus in each section of the event.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The strategies employed by Randall also help her regain her <strong>focus<\/strong> when counter-productive thoughts invade her mind.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Also, keep in mind that the mind can also get fatigued, just like the body does in longer events.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Tips_for_Improving_your_Focus_in_Competition\"><\/span>Tips for Improving your Focus in Competition:<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>&#8211;Review past races or competitions and identify the points in your race where and when you lost focus.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Divide your race in manageable chunks and create a focusing plan according to those \u201cchapters\u201d of your race.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Know what&#8217;s relevant to focus on for each section of the race. Be aware of your top distractions and be ready to refocus.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Keep in mind that all athletes will lose focus occasionally. But how quickly you get back on track is the key to a strong mental game.<\/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-refocus-after-making-mistakes\/\"><\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/www.peaksports.com\/sports-psychology-blog\/mental-game-tips-for-focusing-during-long-competitions\/\"><strong>Mental Game Tips for Focusing During Long Competitions<\/strong><\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.peaksports.com\/sports-psychology-blog\/refocus-quickly-when-distracted\/\"><\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/www.peaksports.com\/sports-psychology-blog\/focusing-tips-when-playing-down\/\"><strong>Tips For Focusing When Playing 2-3 Strokes Down<\/strong><\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.peaksports.com\/sports-psychology-blog\/how-to-prevent-mental-mistakes-during-competition\/\"><\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/www.peaksports.com\/sports-psychology-blog\/sports-psychology-podcast-focusing-in-practice-and-competition\/\"><strong>Sports Podcast: Focusing in Practice and Competition<\/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<strong><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>\u00a0<\/strong>on iTunes<br>*Subscribe to <a href=\"https:\/\/open.spotify.com\/show\/0ynyaalKxbnNmsoeL8gF5X?si=8224669de9b3435b\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><strong>The Sports Psychology Podcast<\/strong><\/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_Focused_Athlete\"><\/span>The Focused 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\/focused-athlete-teams-small.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-3922\" style=\"width:215px;height:auto\"\/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>It\u2019s probably no secret that you have many opportunities<strong> to become distracted<\/strong> in sports. Athletes are bombarded with both internal and external distractions everyday in practice and competition. <strong>Focused athletes<\/strong> are able to get the most from their skills because they are more efficient with practice and more concentrated in competition. Athletes who lack focus <strong>let distractions run wild through their mind and don\u2019t know how to adjust or refocus.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The Focused Athlete was developed for any level coach, parent, or junior to professional athlete 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 concentration\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cThe Focused Athlete\u201d is a complete system to teach you how to focus like a champion and harness the power of a zone focus every time you step on the playing field, court, track, or course in practice and games!<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"gb-container gb-container-769fef19\">\n\n<a class=\"gb-button gb-button-68fab510 gb-button-text\" href=\"https:\/\/www.peaksports.com\/the-focused-athlete-cd-program\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">GET DETAILS<\/a>\n\n\n\n<a class=\"gb-button gb-button-3043572a gb-button-text\" href=\"https:\/\/shop.peaksports.com\/collections\/the-confident-athlete-series-digital-download\/products\/the-focused-athlete-digital\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">BUY NOW<\/a>\n\n<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Focusing During Game Time Focusing is an important mental game skill, but it&#8217;s hard to maintain focus over a long period of time. So many distractions can invade your mind during a long competition such as fatigue, starting off the competition poorly, your opponent\u2019s level of performance, etc. How many times has your focus wandered off during a &#8230; <a title=\"Mental Game Tips for Focusing During Long Competitions\" class=\"read-more\" href=\"https:\/\/www.peaksports.com\/sports-psychology-blog\/mental-game-tips-for-focusing-during-long-competitions\/\" aria-label=\"Read more about Mental Game Tips for Focusing During Long Competitions\">Sport Psychology Article&#8230;<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":5603,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[142],"tags":[626,1052,301,525],"class_list":["post-4734","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-sports-psychology-tips","tag-athlete-focus-in-sports","tag-competition","tag-kikkan-randall","tag-mental-game-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=\"Four-time Olympic cross-country skier Kikkan Randall competed in her first Olympics at the age of 19 and her longevity in the sport... 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