Many athletes, coaches, and sports parents do not understand the difference between confidence and expectation. In sports it is assumed that these two concepts go hand in hand – If athletes expect to win or expect to play well, they are confident they can win or play well. But this is far from the truth. Yes, it’s true that these concepts are interconnected, but not in the way most would assume – expectations hold athletes back from developing high levels of confidence. Confidence is based on the strength of the belief in your ability or how strongly you think […]
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17
Nov
2010
Confidence and Coping with Mistakes
You may think that some confident athletes are arrogant and use intimidation to psych out their competitors. Some players shout at officials or get into fights with other players because they have big egos and lots of confidence, but I’m talking about a different kind of self-confidence. All kinds of athletes—junior, amateur, collegiate and professional—need to have high self-confidence to perform their best and feel successful. Confidence is your number one mental game asset in competition. To play your best, you must have a silent self-confidence that’s nothing like what’s described above. This type of confidence is a true […]
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16
Nov
2010
How to Break Out of a Slump in Sports
Every athlete experiences a slump in performance at some point in their career. Slumps are a decrease in your performance that can last for prolonged periods of time if you let it. Many athletes are unaware of the causes of a slump, so the look in the wrong places for a solution. As a result they fall even deeper into a slump. Athletes are unable to break fee from a slump because become frustrated, play tentatively, and lose confidence in their ability to succeed. To break free from a slump you need to start at the root of the […]
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15
Nov
2010
Use Pre-Pitch Routines to Help You Focus
Earlier this year, Cy Younger Award winner Roy Halladay pitch a perfect game and a no-hitter in the same season. He attributes part of his success to having a pre-pitch routine. “I tell myself to pitch the same and stay in a rhythm. I’m not concerned with the score, or striking out everyone. I tell myself to just trying and make pitches. That’s your only job,” said Halladay. Pre-pitch routines are designed to help pitchers: Focus on the process of executing a pitch Prepare consistently for each pitch Feel confident before executing Trust their motion or technique Some ball […]
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13
Nov
2010
Coping with Performance Anxiety
Stress and performance anxiety is a part of everyday life for athletes. The good news is that not all stress is bad stress. In the right amount, stress helps you focus better and achieve what you want. Stress can help athletes be more alert, motivated, and gain a competitive edge. But too much anxiety, non-stop stress is debilitating to an athlete’s health and performance. If you experience too much anxiety, your performance suffers because it makes you physically tense and cripples the ability to focus. Some athletes feel this when afraid to lose, get embarrassed, or afraid of injury. […]
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12
Nov
2010
What is Mental Toughness?
A quality of mind or intellect characterized by a refusal to be intimidated, a determination to finish a contest even when things are going badly, and an ability to control emotions and remain highly focused when under the pressure of intense competition. Mentally tough athletes have a psychological edge that enables them to be more consistent, determined, focused, confident, resilient, and in control under pressure.
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11
Nov
2010
From The Bullpen to The Record Books
Over the years, Phillies ace Roy Halladay has built the reputation of being a machine with incredible work ethic, but his career didn’t start out this way. In 1995, he was drafted first round by the Toronto Blue Jays. In 1998, he made his first Major League start, and carried a no-hitter into the 9th inning against Detriot, unitill Bobby Higginson hit a solo-homerun with two outs. Halladay’s talent was obvious, but mental barriers such as low self-confidence, lack of focus, and a fear of failure kept him from reaching his potention on the mound. In 2000, Halladay set the record for highest ERA ever, among MLB […]
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04
Nov
2010
Building Team Cohesion for Success
Individual talent alone won’t make a team successful. Team members must be able to understand and take advantage of each others strengths to be successful. That’s teamwork. Coaches play an important role in enhancing teamwork. They set the tone for the whole team. If the coach is committed to the team, players also see the importance of being committed. In contrast, coaches who are not as committed imply that the team isn’t that important. Coaches can encourage teamwork by treating each player equally. For example, a coach may have a team rule that if players miss practices, they don’t […]
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19
Oct
2010
In Sports the Game is a Test
Athletes can sometimes sabotage their own success in sports. They “get in their own way” when they try too hard, force their game, over think and over analyze their performance. I’m sure you have heard me mention the phenomenon of “paralysis by over analysis.” If you or your athletes think too much or over analyze their performance, they don’t trust their skills and get in their own way. Athletes who allow their talents to shine can play freely, trust their skills, and don’t feel added pressure to be perfect when they perform. Coaches play an important role in an […]
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07
Oct
2010
Halladay Uses His Mental Skills to Succeed
Philadelphia Phillies’ ace, Roy Halladay made history in his postseason debut hurling the second no- hitter in Major league postseason history against the Cincinnati Reds. Halladay also threw a perfect game earlier in the season against the Marlins, making him the first pitcher in MLB history to throw a perfect game and a no-hitter in the same season. “It’s an unbelievable feeling,” said Halladay in a postgame interview, “This is why I love the game.” When asked how satisfied he was with his postseason debut Halladay responded, “Complacency is something that can make you peak. If you can avoid […]
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