Much is being talked about mindfulness and how it helps to improve performance and alleviate stress. Research supports that becoming mindful plays a very important role in staying in the zone, as athletes call it. But, what is being mindful? Mindfulness is no other experience than that of being aware of our present moment. Have you ever slowed down to really taste the pizza or salad you are eating? Have you paid real attention to …
During the past few days, many countries have already visited the athletic installations and apartment complexes where the athletes will be staying. A great majority of the international inspecting staff has had a very disappointed experience. Just last week, the Australian team did what they called a “stress test,” which meant to open the water from the showers and sink at the same time. To their surprise, the plumbing failed the test. With only a …
What a weekend of fantastic sport achievements and so much to learn from the winners!!! After losing her last two finals, Serena Williams wins her 22nd Grand Slam tennis championship tying Steffi Graf for second as all-time winners. Andy Murray wins Wimbledon after losing the 2016 finals of the Australian and French Opens. Portugal, the underdog, wins their first EURO Cup in the country’s history. Brittany Lang wins her first major championship in her 10-year …
We strive to achieve our best. We set goals that will lead us to meet our objectives. We persevere despite the many obstacles that come our way. However, there are no guarantees that what we set out to attain will be achieved as expected. Along the way, there will be major disappointments, unexpected setbacks, delays, and, yes, loses. But, do not confuse loses with failures. It was surely not the case for Spencer Silver who, …
If there is a common trait that all successful athletes have is that of feeling confident about their abilities. They all carry that intangible mystique that, when it matters most, it shows with no fail. Somehow, they are able to perform best when it really matters as they are able to successfully achieve in tough situations. Their seemingly effortless demeanor may be more natural for some athletes than for others; however, what most athletes have …
Athletes want to win every time they compete. It is in their competitive nature to work and compete hard in order to come on top and bring the prize home. Their wanting to win is often fueled by their own desires to win. They are super focused and are able to negotiate struggles that come along the way. They are very confident and come to compete expecting to win. Some people perceive them as arrogant …
We compete because we want to win. The inherent aspect of competition is that of doing one’s best to achieve the ultimate goal. When we were young, we were given rewards for just participating in an event; maybe it was a ribbon or a medal. Coaches and parents were thrilled to see us happy. In the process, we unconsciously learned that getting ribbons was a very pleasant experience worth repeating. As we grew up, we …
We tend to think that practicing hard and pushing through rough experiences are enough to make it into the big leagues, but elite athletes are taught to understand that unless they build awareness of their thoughts, emotions and body sensations, they will fall short of achieving their true potential. To achieve peak performance, it is not only necessary to practice hard and develop consistent techniques, but also learn to become aware of moments when distractions …
Working with team sport athletes requires a different mental approach than working with individual athletes. What really counts is how a coach makes sure that the team plays as a unit. It does not matter if a team is full of talented players. If they cannot play together, the team will not achieve success. Coaches choose to use different types of motivation, which could be a combination of positive or negative talks. Positive motivation pushes …
Athletes come to compete ready to do their best. They train hard after putting a lot of hours practicing and improving their skills. But, is this enough in order to do one’s best? Derek Jeter showed up to play not expecting to do his best, but with a prepared state of mind that would help him to achieve his best. One of his mental preparations was that of managing what he can control without worrying …