The Mental Edge
Athletes develop the mental edge through the training of mental skills.
Mental skills, just like physical skills, take repetition, practice, and game-time application to develop. Think of it as sports training for your brain!
When an athlete develops the mental strength to compliment the extensive and intense physical demands of sport, higher levels of performance become consistent and regular, increasing the probability of desirable competitive outcomes.
The main purpose of mental skills training is to help athletes develop an overall competitive edge and perform at their peak potential not only in sport, but in all aspects of life, by learning how to:
- Increase emotional control
- Improve and control focus
- Overcome fear and mental blocks
- Enhance overall confidence
- Reduce competition anxiety
- Effectively debrief and evaluate performance
- Manage stress and arousal
- Perform under pressure
- Develop confidence post-injury
- Develop coping skills to deal with setbacks and adversity
- Create and maintain positive environments
- Communicate Effectively
- Identify optimal zone of functioning and methods to consistently enter the desired zone
- Set and achieve goals