Mental Game Coaching Professionals
Do your athletes assume that their focus is to blame for their mental errors or lack of performance?
We know that concentration (or mental focus) is critical for maximum performance. But many of my athletes think lack of focus is to blame for making mental mistakes and not ultimately playing to their potential. Allow me to explain…
Many athletes blame their poor play on focusing errors. They write me to help them improve their concentration in competition.
They’ll say things such as….
- “I make a stupid mistake and proceed to lose my focus.”
- “I can’t concentrate when I’m down or losing.”
- “I perform poorly at the start of competition because I’m not focusing.”
- “I’m not executing routine plays because I get distracted.”
However, what’s wrong with all these statements? Is poor focus really to blame? Most athletes (and coaches too) often assume that a lack of focus is the culprit for athletes’ lack of mental toughness!
But I have a different take on it. Yes, athletes do become distracted and make mental errors during competition, even the pros. However, distractions or concentration breakdowns usually start with other mental game setbacks.
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MGCP Spring 2010 Course Update
Early registration for the Spring 2010 MGCP
course (starting in Feb), ends January 15, 2010.
You can enroll after, but tuition increases.
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Based on my experience as a mental game coach to athletes, a poor focus often results from other mental game errors, such as frustration, a lack of intensity, fear, or lack of confidence, for example. Here’s the proof:
- Frustration can lead to a lack of focus when athletes are upset with making mistakes they think they should have executed. Thus, dwelling on something that just happened makes it impossible to focus on the current play, pitch, or shot.
- I’m sure you know that a lack intensity causes poor focus. To focus at peak levels (and perform at your peak) athletes must first have the proper amount of intensity or energy. A lack of challenge can lead to boredom. Being outmatched can lead to anxiety for some athletes. In either state, you can’t focus a peak levels–you are out of the flow channel.
- Tension, anxiety, or fear can cause athletes to focus on all the wrong stuff during competition. “What’s my coach/parent going to say if I lose this match?” A sign of low confidence, anxiety and fear causes athletes to future-think and make assumptions about outcomes, which again leads to a clouded focus.
- A lack of trust in technique can lead to making mistakes. Athletes just assume that you they didn’t focus enough for that easy shot. They tighten up just at the wrong time because they did not trust their ability to execute.
Too many times athletes assume a lack of focus is the culprit to mistakes or lack of mental toughness. In reality, a poor focus often results from other mental game boo-boos such as frustration, lack of confidence, and low trust in one’s game.
Want to learn my system for helping athletes reach their potential? Join the Spring MGCP program starting soon!
Early registration ends January 15, 2010 for the Spring course starting the week of February 14. Get 10% off tuition by registering now!
If you have not done so, please complete an application at the MGCP website:
Mental Game Coaching Professional Website
If you have already submitted your MGCP application, please email me to request the Spring 2010 enrollment forms.
Note: The first five people to lock in their seats will get preference.
Please call me at 888-742-7225 if you have any questions about the course.
Your Master Mental Game Coach,
Patrick J. Cohn, Ph.D.,
Master Mental Game Coach
p.s. Here’s a quote from a recent MGCP grad about the course:
“The MGCP course has provided me with the structure and information to allow me to provide my athletes with a comprehensive and organized program to address their mental game challenges.”
~ Chris Farina
Boost Your Self-Confidence With Mental Game Coaching!
Master mental game coach, Dr. Patrick Cohn, can help you or your athlete(s), ages 12 and up, overcome mental game issues with personal coaching.
You can work with Dr. Patrick Cohn himself in Orlando, Florida or via Skype, FaceTime, or telephone. Call us toll free at 888-742-7225 or contact us for more information about the different coaching programs we offer!
What are our students saying?
“WOW!!! What a week I had. I was able to perform with a confidence that allowed my style to shine through–no more entering the arena with that “deer in the headlights” look or feeling. I stopped evaluating myself while I was performing, and I actually left the arena after my patterns feeling like I had experienced a lot of fun. Thank you so much.”
~Julia Dreyer, National Champion Equestrian
For All Athletes – Learn Confidence-Boosting Techniques!
D you have a negative self-image of yourself as an athlete that stifles confidence?
No matter ow positive you try to be, are you unable to shake the doubt that rushes into your head when you size up your competition?
Have you labeled yourself as a loser, poor closer, or mediocre athlete and these labels keep you stuck in a rut of self-pity and indecision?
If you’ve answered yes to any of these questions, check out The Confident Athlete!
The Confident Athlete CD and workbook program is a 14-day plan for ultimate self-confidence. This program is ideal for any athlete or coach that wants to discover proven confidence-boosting techniques guaranteed to drastically build self-confidence and improve sports performance.
Learn more about one of our most popular CD programs in The Confident Athlete Series…
The Confident Athlete: A 14-Day Plan For Ultimate Self-Confidence
Check out all of the products in The Confident Athlete Series!
What are customers saying?
“I first purchased The Confident Athlete to see how the program went and immediately saw results. I then purchased the rest of the confident athlete series and have noticed a dramatic improvement in my level of play or should I say consistency. I currently play NCAA Division 1 baseball for Lamar University, and even my coaches have noticed a change in the way that I approach the game. My attitude and confidence at the plate.”
~Tylor Prudhomme (Listen to his success story)
“I am a ASP world qualifying professional surfer and after beginning the ‘The Confident Athlete’ I had an almost instant change in attitude about my own surfing ability and my mindset going into competition. By using the Confident Athlete strategies, my confidence has done a complete 180 degrees. I won a local pro/am a few weeks back, and just had my best result of the year in one the last big events on the world circuit this last week in Brazil! It is my secret weapon!”
~Shaun Burrell, Professional Surfer (Listen to his success story)
For Young Athletes and Parents – Learn More About How to Help Kids Improve Confidence Quickly!
We’ve got a great program for you called “The Confident Sports Kid: A 7-Day Plan for Building Ultimate Self-Confidence.”
The Confident Sports Kid is a 7-day program for sports parents and kids to boost young athlete’s performance, happiness and success… in sports and life!
The Confident Sports Kid is two programs in one. There’s a manual and CD for parents/coaches, and a workbook/CD for young athletes.
Packed with mental strategies that you and your kids can start using immediately, this program teaches your athletes how to identify confidence busters, proactively deal with them, manage expectations that undermine confidence, and mentally prepare to stay confident when faced with adversity.
What’s more, our program teaches you, as sports parents and coaches, how you may be hurting your kids’ confidence and gives you instructions for changing your behavior in ways that will improve your athletes’ performance, confidence and enjoyment.
Learn more about one of our most popular CD programs in The Confident Sports Kid Series…
The Confident Sports Kid: A 7-Day Plan for Building Ultimate Self-Confidence
Check out all of our products in The Confident Sports Kid Series!
What are parents and coaches saying about our program?
“I appreciate the advice to parents as to how to help your child become more mentally resilient to bullying in sports. The specific advice and scenarios are extremely helpful for any child on a team and very helpful in guiding parents, coaches and administrators in how to deal with bullying in sports. I cannot thank you enough for your input, and I am so reassured to know that there are people like you who are writing articles and doing interviews on such timely and important matters.”
~Julie Goot
“Dr. Patrick Cohn and Lisa Cohn are to be congratulated! Together, they offer a wealth of knowledge, information, and practical mental tools for sports parents on the substantial “mental game” challenges and pressures facing today’s young athletes.”
~Marc D. Anderson, LCSW, MGCP, Mental Game Coach
For Mental Coaches – Add More Value To Your Mental Training Programs!
This workbook series was designed for coaches and mental coaches to use with their athletes.
The Athlete’s Mental Edge workbooks complement your existing mental training program. Each of the 15 workbooks in the Athlete’s Mental Edge System teaches your athletes a specific mental skill to improve their performance.
For mental coaches, this system is ideal for between session education.
For sports coaches, you’ll be able to conduct 15 team seminars using the workbook system.
In the Athlete’s Mental Edge workbook system, you receive 15 easy-to-read, practical Mental Edge Workbooks on PDF, as well as 16 coaches’ game plan MP3 audio files.
Athlete’s Mental Edge Workbook System
What are coaches saying?
“I am really pleased with the Athlete’s Mental Edge workbooks – they are fitting in really well with my coaching! I find they offer a great framework for doing workshop sessions. I have also used the workbooks with a few individual athletes – for the younger ones (12 and under). They are giving a good structure and framework to our sessions. The workbooks have worked well with all of them!”
~Kerri Morgan, Mental Game Coach
“I am impressed with the willingness and openness of Dr. Cohn to share all of his assets (intellectual, products, etc.) with the MGCP students. You have developed an incredible model/package for mental training. Even though we are paying for your service, you are passing on a legacy built on your contribution to the world of sports. Thank you for that.”
~Tony Melito, MGCP