Top Mental Game Questions Athletes Ask

Peak Performance Sports’ Resource Hub

Every athlete struggles with the mental game in competition. Below are the most common sports psychology questions athletes ask about confidence, focus, pressure, and performance. Peak Performance Sports, LLC is a leader in providing online mental performance coaching and sport psychology resources for athletes, coaches and sports parents. Click below to read detailed answers.

What is the Role of a Sports Psychologist?
How do you Find Top Sports Psychologists?
What is Sports Psychology?
What is a Mental Performance Coach?
How Do I Stop Choking in Big Moments?
Why do I play great in practice but fall apart in games?
How do I build confidence after mistakes or bad games?
How do I calm down before a game?
How do I stop overthinking during competition?
Why do I feel confident in practice but lose it in competition?
How do I stop being nervous before I compete?
How do I bounce back after a tough loss?
How do I deal with fear of failure?
How do I get in the zone more often?

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Frequently Asked Questions About the Mental Game

What is the mental game in sports?

The mental game is your ability to manage confidence, focus, motivation, and emotions in competition. It’s the difference between performing freely and holding back under pressure.

What is sports psychology?

Sports psychology coaching helps athletes (1) understand how the mind influences performance and (2) apply mental strategies to help perform their best in competition. We also help athletes improve practice efficiency and focus. You’ll learn how to mentally prepare for competition and how to take your practice game to competition. Sports psychology is not for problem athletes. We help you improve your performance using mental training strategies from sports psychology.

What is mental performance coaching or mental training?

Mental Game Coaching (also known as mental training or mental toughness training) is the practical aspect of sports psychology. Mental toughness training helps athletes improve mental skills and overcome mental barriers, such as confidence, concentration (focus) or composure related issues. It requires replacing unhealthy attitudes and beliefs with healthy ones in order to achieve peak performance in sports.

What’s the difference between sports psychology and therapy?

Unlike psychotherapy or therapy, sports psychology doesn’t use couches, prescribe medicines, or work with abnormal behavior. Instead, the goal of mental game coaching and/or sports psychology is to teach athletes how to be more confident, improve focus, stay composed under pressure, practice more efficiently, and develop better pre-performance routines. The main difference between a mental game coach and a therapist is that mental game coaches work with athletes on sports performance enhancement and not personal challenges (e.g. working through a divorce, coping with an addictive behavior, etc.) or abnormal behavior (e.g. schizophrenia). Read more about The Roles of a Sports Psychologist.

When should I work with a sports psychology expert?

The most common sign that an athlete needs to work with a mental coach is when he or she is unable to perform up to maximum ability level in competition. This is often characterized when an athlete is able to perform well in practice, but seems to flounder or freeze up in competition. Smart athletes and coaches recognize the warning signs–an inability to cope with the pressures of competition, becoming easily distracted, or having difficulty with performance anxiety or fear of failure.

Another situation in which work with a sports psychologist is appropriate is when an athlete is performing after an injury or in the recovery stage of injury and needs help working through issues, such as diminished confidence, which may manifest during the healing process. Read more about What is a Sports Psychologist.

What kind of results can I expect from mental training?

Sports psychology and mental toughness coaching is not a one-size-fits-all solution to performance issues in sports. Results vary from athlete to athlete and are contingent upon factors such as a desire to improve mental game skills, the ability to implement sports psychology strategies, and willingness to overcome the mental obstacles that get in the way of performance.

However, anticipated outcomes include improved confidence; greater composure; keener concentration because of increased ability to cope with distractions; and entering the zone faster and staying there longer.

How do I know if I need mental coaching?

If you play great in practice but struggle in games, get nervous under pressure, or lose confidence after mistakes, mental coaching can help. These are the exact struggles athletes ask about every day.

Can parents and coaches support the mental game?

Yes. Parents and coaches play a big role in shaping athletes’ confidence and mindset. Learning how to support athletes without adding pressure makes a major difference.

Do you work with athletes or teams in all sports?

We work with any athlete, team, or performer who is open to change and motivated to improve his or her mental game. Our programs can be applied to any level of competition, including young athletes and parents, junior, high school, college or professional. We work with individuals as well as teams.

Peak Performance Sports mental performance coaches‘ experience is varied, but he has provided mental game coaching in sports such as: golf, auto racing, motocross, running, shooting, gymnastics, skating, soccer, tennis, football, basketball, baseball, softball, hockey, BMX racing, swimming, triathlons, skydiving, surfing, competitive sailing, billiards, and bowling. Our programs and assessments allow us to concentrate on the particular needs of each athlete, regardless of the specific sport. To see some of the feedback we’ve received about experiences of athletes in all sports, visit our client list.

Can mental training help my child to perform better in sports?

Mental training for sports parents and kids can help you identify the areas in your child’s mental game that are holding back his or her performance. It will also teach you the mental game skills, practice routines, and communication skills to positively impact your child’s performance. Learn how to become the Ultimate Sports Parent by visiting our Youth Sports Site.

Patrick Cohn, Ph.D. Owner, Master Mental Coach

Peak Performance Sports, LLC is the brainchild of Dr. Patrick Cohn. Dr. Cohn received a Ph.D. is sports psychology from The University of Virginia. Peak Performance Sports is a leader in online mental performance coaching and sports psychology resources for athletes, parents of athletes, and coaches. Dr. Cohn is also the director of instruction for the MGCP sport psychology certification program.

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