Staying Mentally Tough Against Top Competitors
Facing a “Goliath” opponent is daunting for any athlete or team.
There is a mystique around a dominant team, a team with several multiple top-tier athletes or a highly-decorated athlete.
These opponents, at times, appear unbeatable.
When facing high-caliber opponents with a winning history, there are two approaches…
The mindset you choose will make all the difference in the world as to your levels of preparation, game intensity, confidence and performance during the competition.
One mindset focuses on your opponent’s strengths and record.
When you are focused on the talent, ability or accomplishments of your opponent, the end result is usually feelings of anxiety and intimidation.
Focusing on your opponent zaps you of confidence and results in tentative performances and a greater number of mistakes during competitions.
The mindset that contributes to optimal performances is the one where you focus on your strengths, your successes, your preparation and your game plan.
When you are focused on your talents and abilities, you enter the competition confident, and mentally and physically ready to perform to your capabilities.
The Philadelphia Eagles are playing the Goliath in the NFL, the New England Patriots, in Super Bowl LII.
The Patriots have arguably the best quarterback (Tom Brady) and greatest head coach (Bill Belichick) of all-time and have won five Super Bowls in 16 years.
In fact the Patriots have not missed the playoffs since 2008.
The Eagles refuse to get wrapped up in the history of the Patriots, after all, it’s history.
Eagles head coach Doug Pederson has the team focused on the keys to help the team be at their best… And the Eagles are buying into this positive mindset and proper focus.
PEDERSON: “It’s important for us that we make sure that we continue to detail what we do in practice, we execute our game plan, guys are focused that way, and you just can’t get caught up in what they do. It’s more about what we do in this game.”
Eagles wide receiver Alshon Jeffery echoed Pederson’s philosophy and stated their opponent is just another opponent, nothing more.
Jeffery and the rest of the team knows they must be singularly focused on their strengths to successfully accomplish their mission.
JEFFERY: “It’s a faceless opponent, no matter whose jersey it is. They put on their pads just like us. I don’t care who it is, Tom Brady, or anybody.”
You see, it doesn’t matter how many championships your opponents have achieved… or their win-loss record… or their ranking… or the number of medals or awards they have earned… All those things are just past numbers.
If you want to perform your best and compete with everything you have, you need to start the competition on even ground rather than elevate the status of your opponents.
It’s critical to maintain your focus, but it is even more important to maintain the focus on your team’s talents.
How to Maintain your Focus Against Top Competition:
Do you buy into the common phrase in sports, “On any given day”?
This phrase is a reminder that no team or athlete is invincible. Everyone has bad days and good days.
Treat the other team as nameless and numberless. Don’t put the other team on a pedestal.
Above all else, focus on your team’s talents, ability, and strengths.
And learn how to control your focus with The Focused Athlete:
Improve Concentration in Sports!
If you’re an athlete who is frequently distracted, loses focus in competition, or wants to learn more about how to focus better under pressure, The Focused Athlete is for you!
Concentration and the ability to focus under adversity is what championship athletes do best.
It only takes one distraction to enter your mind 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 Focused Athlete is a complete system to teach you how to focus like a champion and harness the power of a zone focus every tie 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.
Discover:
- How to quickly identify distractions that sabotage your concentration and how to quickly refocus after distractions.
- How to use pregame routines to help you harness the power of zone concentration before competition.
- How to use preshot routines before shots or serves to help you be more task-focused instead of worrying about results.
Learn more about one of our most popular CD programs in The Confident Athlete Series…
The Focused Athlete: A 14-Day Plan For Superior Concentration
What are customers saying about our mental game programs?
“I can see that ‘The Confident Athlete Series‘ program is really sort of a lifestyle change. Just as weight loss involves a change in eating habits, confidence involves a change in thinking habits. I recently participated in a registered Skeet tournament and shot the best doubles score I’ve shot in four years. I attribute that score to your program!”
~Kevin Lutgen, Shooter
“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
“I enjoyed ‘The Confident Athlete Series’ very much. I particularly liked the format, the ease of the program, and the 2 CDs that accompanied the workbook – 10-20 minutes a day was simple to adhere to and put in my busy schedule. I love the part about confidence with grace, and what I want to portray and feel the minute I step foot into Los Angeles for nationals. I love the affirmations, the relaxation techniques, and just the entire perspective of the program.”
~Sarah, US National Aerobic Gymnastics Team
“I just finished ‘The Confident Athlete Program‘. Improving confidence is a never ending process. I think that confidence boosting is an awesome area. Having a daily mental plan for mental “work outs” can turbo charge anyone’s confidence level…. Studying almost all of Dr. Cohn’s mental game materials gives me a real EDGE over my competitions and most importantly – a boost in my daily life.”
~Radek Sefcik, peaksports.com member
Boost Your Self-Confidence And Focus With Expert Mental Game Coaching!
If you’re a top performer during practice but find yourself under-performing in competition, the most likely culprit holding you back is your mental game.
Master mental game coach Dr. Patrick Cohn can help you overcome your mental game issues with one-on-one personal mental game 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 mental game coaching students, parents and coaches saying?
“After going through a week of practice using your pre-kick routine, I was perfect on three field goals on a muddy field and a windy day in my final college game. Now I am entertaining the idea of trying to enter the professional ranks. Thank you for your help!”
~Nate Littlefield, Collegiate Kicker
“My boys succeeded ! We beat a team that no one could beat during the year, that was coached by a former Professional player , that had sons of former Professional players in the team and as a result of believing in themselves, they won.”
~Tony Acosta, Coach
“I felt the time spent in your seminar was very well organized. The topics were great and you had the coaches communicating in an open atmosphere. Thanks again for your time and effort and I look forward to talking with you in the future.”
~Coach Dave Wannstedt, Miami Dolphins