+1-650-45-702-45

Mental Tips & Tricks for Athletes

Positive thinkings brings positive outcomes

Set Goals

Setting goals does not mean picking a task out of thin air. Deep thought is required to define both long- and short-term realistic goals that are measurable and have a well-defined deadline. Be aware of your current level of performance, know what specific goals to set that address your weaknesses, and create a detailed plan to reach that goal. Writing the goals down will create a visual reminder and help you realize them better.

Cope with Tough Situations

Do not simply maintain composure in trying situations; cope with them as well. Handling unexpected events in a positive manner is vital to your success. A poor performance, injury, or other unforeseen circumstances can hinder your mindset and get in the way of reaching your goals. Maintain a positive attitude and outlook in any situation.

Be Committed

Be as committed to your mental resilience as you are to your sport. Think about your sport beyond games and training on the court. Professional athletes give importance to their eating, their sleeping, and everything around them in order to achieve their goals.

See Challenges as Opportunities

Elite athletes should view a challenge as an opportunity rather than a setback. Actively seek them out and cope with problems along the way. Do not perceive challenges as problems or threats; this will not allow room for improvement.

Be Confident

Athletes who have high self-confidence choose to have and maintain a positive attitude. Spend time developing your skills toward a set goal, and be confident that you can achieve the expected outcome. If you fail, your high self-confidence will help you come up with a realistic explanation as to why. Take that reason and refuse to let it affect your confidence in a dramatic way.

Visualize

Visualization is a valuable technique for using one’s imagination to think positively about upcoming events. Try imagining outcomes on the field, and think about exactly what you’d do in that situation. Visualizing yourself in action will prepare you for the real deal.

Concentrate

Concentration is a key factor in being the best you can be. Focus on maintaining concentration in both practice and competition and avoid internal and external distractions. If the concentration is broken, regain focus on "here and now" rather than past or future events.

Relax

Staying calm is not always easy to do, especially in sports where there are a lot of high-stress situations. Practice relaxation techniques to help regain a clear head and allow you to think rationally under competitive stress. Visualization, listening to calming music, and breathing exercises can all be effective relaxation tools.

Maintain Composure

This skill is all about maintaining physical and mental control. This is particularly helpful in moments of stress and anxiety. Recognize your emotions and use them to improve your athletic performance.

Deal Effectively with People

In order to succeed in any sport, you have to be aware that you are just a small part of a much larger community. Teammates, coaches, and even parents all play a role in your success. The ability to effectively communicate thoughts, feelings, and emotions while dealing with conflicts is all part of the package of total athletic success.