How to Reach your Peak Performance in Football
Peak performance is the result of great preparation and consistent peak performance is the result of consistent mental preparation.
Great preparation shouldn’t be reserved for only the most important competitions during a season, yet many athletes prepare for regular season competitions differently than championship competitions.
Preparation should be a habit. Approaching competition in the same way, no matter the significance of the game, is what leads to consistency and it is that consistency that produces top-level performance.
In other words, it is nearly impossible for athletes to flip a switch and perform at their peak suddenly at the end of the season. End of the season performances are a culmination of all the preparation undertaken throughout the season.
One area of preparation that changes the most between regular season and championship season is mental preparation. Many times, athletes start visualizing and learning mental strategies to improve focus when champions roll around.
You cannot reap the benefits of mental preparation unless you consistently dedicate time throughout the season to improve your mental game.
Inconsistent preparation causes athletes to fall short of their goals.
Great preparation is the approach of Temple University football each time the team gathers together, no matter if it’s practice, training, scrimmages, film sessions or games.
The Owls treat every game with the same amount of importance. Temple linebacker Chapelle Russell says every game is a championship game in his mind, especially as conference play starts.
RUSSELL: “Every game from here on out, in my eyes, is a championship game. Conference game, every games matters. It’s a championship mentality, every time you come out you come out to this field. We want to continue working regardless of our opponent, worry about us… Any bit of mental prep we can do to add an advantage to [our] game, that’s what we are going to do.”
As you see, there is more to preparation than physically showing up for practice. You need to be focused during practice and training sessions. If you are not focused in practice, you will lose focus in competitions.
If you do not hustle, push past comfort and go all out in practice, your effort will suffer in competition.
If you do not mentally prepare and work to develop your mental skills, you will lack the mental toughness necessary to overcome obstacles and perform at your peak.
If you are not ready each and every game and prepared as if it were a championship level competition, you will continue to produce inconsistent performances.
Consistency and peak performance are the products of your preparation habits. Develop sound preparation habits and you will be able to rely on those habits to produce peak performance on a continual basis.
Preparation and Peak Performance:
The key is to ask yourself, “What would I do if my championship competition was in two weeks? How would I get ready to perform my best?”
And mental preparation for competition is the most important after all the training is complete.
Mental preparation includes entering the role of athlete, fueling your confidence, focusing on one step at a time, and preparing to trust in your skills.
Remember, consistent preparation leads to consistent performance.
Improve Mental Preparation in Sports!
If you’re an athlete who is frequently tight, tense, anxious, or wants to learn more about how to relax better under pressure, The Relaxed Athlete is for you!
Confidence and the ability to relax under adversity is what championship athletes do best.
It only takes one tense moment for you to lose a critical point, miss a putt, or lose a second off your lap time. You cannot afford to let distractions run wild in your mind and cause you to make errors at critical times in the game!
The Relaxed Athlete is a complete system to teach you how to relax like a champion and harness the power of relaxation every time you step on the playing field, court, track or course in practice and games!
This workbook and CD program consists of 2 audio CDs that include 14 days of focus boosting exercises and a simple to follow workbook that guides you through each of the 14 days, helps you apply strategies, and customizes the exercises to your personal focus challenges.
You’ll Discover:
- How to quickly identify distractions that sabotage your concentration and how to quickly refocus after distractions.
- How to use pre-shot routines before shots or serves to help you be more task-focused instead of worrying about results.
- How to use pregame routines to help you harness the power of zone concentration before competition.
Learn more about one of our most popular CD programs in The Confident Athlete Series…
The Relaxed Athlete: A 14-Day Plan For Superior Concentration
What are customers saying about our mental game programs?
“As a result of reading and implementing ‘The Confident Athlete Series,’ I am once again enjoying golf and letting bad shots roll off my shoulders and appreciating my good shots without attaching expectations. Thanks Dr. Cohn!”
~Stu Blasius, P.G.A. Golf Professional
“Your response to the throwing problem in front of the coach covers so many situations in life…that is the beauty of playing sports…the life learning experiences. Keep up the good work…you are the best mental coach.”
~Bill Brennan, sports parent