Genetics plays a role in a person’s athletic ability, but other things also affect a person’s performance. The individual’s optimism, perseverance, resilience, and more help differentiate elite athletes from those who are average. Elite athletes have mental fortitude. They keep going regardless of what they face.
Any player who wants to reach the elite level must have this mental toughness. Fortunately, a child can be taught this mental toughness. The person just needs to make use of mental training for athletes. With this training, the athlete will be able to persist even when they make mistakes or face an overwhelming challenge. They continue moving forward when everything looks bleak. How can a person unlock this mental toughness?
The Right Circle
People need to surround themselves with other individuals who have similar goals and values. When they do so, they find they have the motivation to continue pursuing their personal goal. A person needs to be willing to stand out in the crowd and be different. They cannot let others influence them when they are pursuing the status of elite athlete. The right circle will help the individual make the best use of their time while bringing value to their life.
Individual Potential
Every person needs to maximize their potential. Doing so allows them to get the most out of their efforts in different situations. When they maximize this potential, they accomplish more in less time while achieving better results. How can a person do so? They need to do an objective assessment of where they currently are and determine what they want to be. With this information in hand, they can then create a plan to get from point A to point B.
Pursue a Passion
The elite athlete is passionate about what they do. They aren’t chasing a scholarship or working to please their parents. They truly enjoy the sport and the time they spend training and playing. When a person loves what they do, developing mental toughness becomes less of a challenge.
Focus on Factors That Can Be Controlled
Elite athletes focus on those elements they can control. They determine how hard they want to work for a goal and what they are willing to give up to achieve this goal. In addition, they determine their attitude.
For instance, they cannot control a bad call by a game official, but they determine how they respond to it and how it affects their gameplay. Furthermore, every athlete decides how they treat their teammates and opponents. Elite athletes are gracious and humble when they win and show good sportsmanship when they lose.
Visualization for Better Performance
Visualization allows an athlete to perform better. Imagery allows an athlete to learn new skills and improve their technique. Many athletes use visualization when they are recovering from an injury or planning performance strategies. It is also of great help when developing mental toughness.
In fact, Olympic athletes use this technique regularly, and they are considered to be at the top of their game. Visualization helps a person increase their confidence and cope with anxiety. It is also beneficial when an athlete is learning new motor skills.
Every athlete needs to focus on building mental toughness. Doing so will affect every aspect of their game. However, it goes beyond this. Mental toughness will help the athlete in every area of life, including off the court or field. Sadly, many coaches don’t emphasize this, so it falls on the athlete to engage in this training independently. Those that do will stand out in the crowd everywhere they go.
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