The mind is a powerful tool. You have to train it like you train your body. Passion, focus, confidence, composure, attitude, inner drive, intensity, resilience, determination, commitment, motivation, discipline, goal setting, dealing with distractions, imagery, positive thinking, self talk, are all concepts that come to mind when talking about the mental aspect of performance.

When your talent and physical preparation are equal to that of your rivals, the mental outlook will without a doubt give you the competitive edge. Maximize your physical performance by fully focusing on developing your mental skills and striving for excellence. Commit to greatness by developing “mental” action plans in confidence building, visualization of goals, focusing strategies, anxiety and stress reduction, distraction control, getting in the zone and staying there.

Focusing is perhaps the most important and the most difficult mental strategy to master.   Athletes are often told, “ JUST FOCUS,” but    HOW do you do this? Focusing is the ability to concentrate and perform in the moment irrespective of distractions.  It is NOT about thinking about what happened in the past (last game or last shift), nor is it about thinking about the future (the next period or the end of the...

“Consistent performance is the product of consistent focus” (Terry Orlick) One of the best ways to improve focus is to think back and reflect on your successful and not so successful past performances. Reliving these scenarios (what you did before, during and after) will help pinpoint what you were or were not focusing on.  You need to understand what makes you “tick.” REFLECTING ON PAST PERFORMANCES - Questions to ask yourself: BEFORE What...

Goal setting is similar to choosing a destination on a map.  If you don’t know where you are heading any road will do. You need team goals (to be set with your team) as well as individual goals. You need individual short term (process) goals and long term (outcome) goals.  Set long term goals but focus on the short term (process) goals because these are the ones you can control. How to set...

Confidence is defined as a “belief in one’s ability”.  It is a critical skill to master to enhance performance.  It is crucial yet fragile.  It can waiver day to day and requires constant nurturing.  The ultimate goal of any athlete is not only to walk into a game confident but also to maintain this confidence level throughout a game.  As an athlete, the more confidence you have, the more willing you are to...