{"id":5268,"date":"2016-04-27T19:30:00","date_gmt":"2016-04-27T19:30:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.peaksports.com\/sports_psychology_blog\/?p=5268"},"modified":"2025-06-10T06:52:29","modified_gmt":"2025-06-10T10:52:29","slug":"how-to-react-after-having-a-bad-game","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.peaksports.com\/sports-psychology-blog\/how-to-react-after-having-a-bad-game\/","title":{"rendered":"How To React After Having a Bad Game"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-5477 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.peaksports.com\/sports-psychology-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/04\/How-To-React-After-Bad-Game.jpg\" alt=\"Positive Self-Talk\" width=\"600\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.peaksports.com\/sports-psychology-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/04\/How-To-React-After-Bad-Game.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.peaksports.com\/sports-psychology-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/04\/How-To-React-After-Bad-Game-300x150.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\" \/><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Do_You_Have_Positive_Self-Talk_Or_Negative_Self-Talk\"><\/span>Do You Have Positive Self-Talk Or Negative Self-Talk?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2><div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_83 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-react-after-having-a-bad-game\/#Do_You_Have_Positive_Self-Talk_Or_Negative_Self-Talk\" >Do You Have Positive Self-Talk Or Negative Self-Talk?<\/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-react-after-having-a-bad-game\/#Tip_for_how_to_react_better_to_a_poor_game\" >Tip for how to react better to a poor game:<\/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-react-after-having-a-bad-game\/#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-to-react-after-having-a-bad-game\/#The_Confident_Athlete\" >The Confident Athlete<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Self-talk<\/strong> is the primary determinant of how you perform in a competition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>At no time is <strong>self-talk<\/strong> more important than after having a poor game.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The things you say to yourself after a bad performance will determine if one bad game snowballs into the next few games.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If you want to rebound after a bad game, you need to manage your <strong>self-talk<\/strong> instead of allowing self-criticism to dominate your mind and ruin your future play.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>You can easily talk your way into a slump by saying things such as, \u201cI can\u2019t buy a shot,\u201d \u201cI play bad in the playoffs\u201d or \u201cHere we go again&#8230; My bad luck is just going to continue.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Negative self-talk affects your confidence causing you to second guess your game for fear you will miss again. Negative self-talk leads to lower self-confidence and guarantees another bad game.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Some players think <strong>positive self-talk<\/strong> is just a pie-in-the-sky approach, as if they are merely giving themselves a false pep talk.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>These players feel positive self-talk is merely a lie they tell themselves and simply does not work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Positive self-talk<\/strong> is not an attempt to talk yourself into something; positive self-talk is a form of self-coaching.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Your coach has a game plan for how to defend your opponent and win the game. Self-coaching or positive self-talk is a way of defending yourself against negative thoughts in order to play your best and win the mental game.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Kevin Durant of the Oklahoma City Thunder is considered one of the best and most consistent scorers in the NBA&#8230;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Durant averaged 28.2 points per game this season with a 50% field goal percentage and averages 28.7 points during the playoffs over his career.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In Game Two of the Thunder\u2019s first round playoff series against the Dallas Mavericks, Durant struggled and shot 7-of-33 as the Thunder lost 85-84.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Durant&#8217;s 26 misses were the most he ever had in his professional career. How did he react?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>DURANT<\/strong>: <em>&#8220;Bad shooting night for me. It&#8217;s a part of it. I wish it didn&#8217;t happen tonight, but it&#8217;s a part of it. Got some great looks all night and just didn&#8217;t knock &#8217;em down. Just stick with my routine, don&#8217;t do too much extra, and go out there tomorrow and get ready for practice.&#8221;<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Durant realized his poor performance was an anomaly, not here to stay. Durant knows he is a good shooter and that every player has bad games.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Durant\u2019s self-talk remained positive. Due to his positive self-talk, Durant was able to bounce back in Game Three and finished with 34 points, seven rebounds and three assists to help the Thunder secure the win.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Tip_for_how_to_react_better_to_a_poor_game\"><\/span>Tip for how to react better to a poor game:<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Remember that self-talk can work for you or against you, so you need to control the conversation in your head. Instead of letting your thoughts run wild, consciously remind yourself of three things:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Everyone has bad games.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>This bad game is not an indication that you have lost your ability.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Recall your recent performances where you played your best.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<p>Consciously directing the conversation in your head is the key to bouncing back and performing optimally.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Don&#8217;t forget to remind yourself of your talents and what you have as an athlete&#8211;those things that stay with you no matter what.<\/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\/do-you-or-your-team-have-the-comeback-mindset\/\"><\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/www.peaksports.com\/sports-psychology-blog\/how-this-pro-bounces-back-from-a-bad-game\/\"><strong>How This Pro Bounces Back From a Bad Game<\/strong><\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.peaksports.com\/sports-psychology-blog\/how-to-grow-competition-confidence\/\"><\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/www.peaksports.com\/sports-psychology-blog\/rebounding-after-a-bad-performance\/\"><strong>Rebounding After a Bad Performance<\/strong><\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.peaksports.com\/sports-psychology-blog\/how-preparation-boosts-confidence\/\"><\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/www.peaksports.com\/sports-psychology-blog\/keep-things-in-perspective\/\"><strong>How Do You React To Bad Shots?<\/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 <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_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\/2024\/01\/confident-athlete-audio250.jpg\" alt=\"The Confident Athlete Audio\" class=\"wp-image-16347\" style=\"width:198px;height:auto\"\/><\/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>Do You Have Positive Self-Talk Or Negative Self-Talk? Self-talk is the primary determinant of how you perform in a competition. At no time is self-talk more important than after having a poor game. The things you say to yourself after a bad performance will determine if one bad game snowballs into the next few games. If you want &#8230; <a title=\"How To React After Having a Bad Game\" class=\"read-more\" href=\"https:\/\/www.peaksports.com\/sports-psychology-blog\/how-to-react-after-having-a-bad-game\/\" aria-label=\"Read more about How To React After Having a Bad Game\">Sport Psychology Article&#8230;<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":5476,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[142],"tags":[530,603,604],"class_list":["post-5268","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-sports-psychology-tips","tag-kevin-durant","tag-positive-self-talk-in-sports","tag-react-better-to-bad-sports-game"],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t<!-- All in One SEO Pro 4.9.7.1 - aioseo.com -->\n\t<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Self-coaching or positive self-talk is a way of defending yourself against negative thoughts in order to play your best and win the mental game. 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