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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12
Nov
2010
What is Mental Toughness?
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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10
Nov
2010
Challenge Your Athletes During Practice
Keeping practice interesting is a big challenge for coaches at the professional and amateur level because some athletes have short attention spans and trouble focusing for long periods of time. When athletes are bored with practice, it is simply because they don’t feel challenged enough. When athletes don’t feel challenged it leads to less than optimal concentration, which causes ineffective practice. Studies have shown that some exceptionally gifted people do not do well in school, not because they cannot handle the work, but because the class is not challenging. The work is too easy for them, and this notion […]
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05
Nov
2010
Being Supportive After a Loss
For sports kids, maintaining confidence after a loss is always a big challenge. Athletes tend to be critical of their performance when they lose the game or don’t play up to their own expectations. Parents can sometimes add “insult to injury” when they pick up on mistakes, get frustrated with their athletes’ performance, or unknowingly punish kids with the silent treatment. As a sports parent, it’s important to understand the mental game challenges athletes face after a loss. Here are the top five tips for being supportive after a loss: 1. The goal is to help your athletes maintain […]
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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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02
Nov
2010
Sports Parents: Coaching From the Sidelines
Too often, well-meaning parents live through their children and expect their kids to take on their own dreams and goals. They evaluate their child’s success or failure based on his or her performance–not his or her happiness. They are overly critical. And, often, coach too much from the sidelines. Rather than expressing enthusiasm by coaching from the sidelines and criticizing, parents need to take a step back. Try to understand why your child takes part in sports. Does he or she play to be with friends? Does your child play because she loves to be part of a team? […]
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01
Nov
2010
Winning Isn’t Everything, but it is Fun…
All kids want to win unless they purely participate for the social aspect of sports. Winning is fun. Most parents want their kids to be successful in sports. You might examine your motivation for wanting your child to be successful in sports. For example, do you want bragging rights? Or, do you want your children to gain confidence through sports that can be transferred to other areas of their lives? Do you want your kids to learn the power of discipline and hard work and how these positive qualities can translate into success? When kids are having fun and […]
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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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01
Oct
2010
Patience is a Powerful Mental Tool in Sports
In his rookie season professional baseball player, Nelson Cruz lacked discipline and patience as a hitter. In the minor leagues, Cruz was a standout player, but he struggled at the plate more often than none. “I didn’t have the patients to be a successful hitter,” said Cruz, “I now know that whatever the situation, I have to stick to my approach, be patient, and make the right adjustments at the right time.” With his new approach, Cruz began the following season with a 14-game hitting streak, five home runs, and a .391 batting average. The saying “patience is a […]
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29
Sep
2010
Use Warm-ups to Focus Your Mind
All good athletes use a warm-up routine one hour before they play. Besides helping you get loose and limber, a warm-up routine has several psychological advantages. The first is that it helps you get focused to play. A warm-up routine helps click in your concentration and put on your game face. It is similar to a runner who stretches before a run or a pilot who performs a checklist to make sure everything is in good order before take-off. Second, this is an excellent time to put the concerns of your life behind you and prepare for the game. […]
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