In sports, what does it mean to have a short memory for mistakes? “Memory” refers to the length of time an athlete dwells on mistakes. Some athletes have difficulty overcoming mistakes during a competition. They think about the mistake repeatedly, replaying the error in their mind. The mistake becomes a distraction, taking the focus off
Have you ever been on a team that lost its star player? Imagine how hard it was for the athlete who needed to fill in for that player. Whether it is for a game or the season, filling in for the top player on your team is a formidable task. Players rely heavily on their
How can you take your game to the next level? Basketball players spend hours in the gym taking hundreds of shots. Football players hit the weight room and bench, squat, and dead lift to build physical strength. Golfers tweak their mechanics to find just the right swing. Extra practice and technique refinement help build an
How often do worrisome thoughts affect how you perform, play, or compete? Do you tend to worry about letting your teammates down or having a bad game? Athletes who worry think too much about past poor performances or possible negative future results. Worrying about something that has yet to happen interferes with an athlete’s ability
How much do mistakes and losses affect you mentally? Are you still reliving a past game or a disappointing season? Nothing hurts performance quite as much as reliving mistakes, bad games, or unfortunate results. Focusing on yesterday or even the last minute interferes with your ability to pay attention to the present. When your attention
Can what you expect keep you stuck in losing streak? A slump or losing streak starts as nothing unusual. Every athlete and team occasionally experiences bad games or unproductive performances. So, what turns a few bad games into a performance rut? What commonalities trap a player or team in a cycle of under performance? If