SPORTING PERFORMANCE
It doesn't matter whether you are a professional sports person, semi-professional or a competitive amateur there are times when you don't perform at your best because of nerves, loss of concentration and focus, loss of confidence or a lack of motivation. On other occasions you might find that you beat someone who is technically superior to you because you control your nerves, remain focused throughout, control your emotions, believe that you are going to win and are very determined to achieve your goal.
“It was a type of euphoria; I felt I could run all day without tiring, that I could dribble through any of their team or all of them; that I could almost pass through them physically. I felt I could not be hurt, it was a strange feeling and one I had not felt before. Perhaps it was merely confidence, but I have felt confident many times without that strange feeling of invincibility”
Pele (One of the greatest footballers of all time) My Life and the Beautiful Game
“I felt as if I was driving in a tunnel; the whole circuit became a tunnel; I had reached such a high level of concentration that it was as if the car and I had become one. Together we were at the maximum. I was giving the car everything, and vice versa ...”
Ayrton Senna (Formula 1 racing world champion) The Independent
These quotes are from exceptional sportsmen who achieved the pinnacle in their respective sports. How much of that success was down to raw talent and how much due to attitude, belief, focus, concentration, confidence and desire to succeed. All sports are littered with talented/gifted sportsmen and women who don't achieve their full potential because of psychological flaws in their character. Equally less talented individuals have been more successful because they worked harder, practiced more often and were tougher mentally.
The question is whether or not we are born with these traits or can learn them. At thespencepractice we believe that you can learn to be more confident, to believe in yourself, to become more emotionally resilient and learn how to maintain focus and concentration for longer periods of time.
If you want to become 'mentally tougher' in your chosen sport you can contact us today to arrange a free initial assessment. Mental toughness coaching can be on a one-to-one basis or in small groups/teams if you prefer.
