Champions Digest Newsletter-June-2017-GGGA-Final | Page 9

focus on
MENTAL
Challenges and Confidence Killers
Just thinking about an up-coming tournament can create unwanted tension and
COACH GARY WISE
MENTAL PERFORMANCE
negative thoughts in some athletes.
When we think about a competition, our first thoughts are often to consider what is at stake? In
thinking about what is at stake, you might consider how important achieving the goal of winning
the tournament is to you and what winning may do as far as eligibility into higher level events
or even a college scholarship. Unfortunately, this focus on an outcome goal detracts from the
energy and focus needed to be “in the moment” and properly prepare for each of the process
goals required to actually play your best.
Negative emotions, actions or habits such as poor levels of planning, body language, self-image and even self-talk are
triggered as the result of a bad outcome, poor decision, tough conditions or simply your attitude at the moment. All are
guaranteed to detract from your athletic performance, but ALL are a product of your mindset.
Creating a winning mindset is a process. This process involves identifying the components needed to achieve a win-
ning mindset and practicing them, just like you practice the different technical aspects of your game. Creating a winning
mind-set also involves identifying the critical negative habits, thoughts and actions that you wish to replace with positive
ones. Over time the cumulative effect of a negative emotional state and self-talk will erode away at your confidence,
reduce your ability to reset after a poor outcome and eventually take away the enjoyment of playing.
To create a new pathway you must take a moment to make a consci entious decision and plan to react positively, display
improved body language, or take the time to accept an outcome and reset your mindset. Accepting the challenge that now
is the time to act is the first step. Your conscious mind must take control of your thoughts in order to redirect your actions
from being a product of your current operating system that resides in your subconscious.
Making permanent positive changes will come from creating a new reality, an “in the moment” reality, where by you
will make decisions and react by design not by default.