Mental Game

     The mental game in sports is one of the most talked about these days but isn't something players know how to practice daily. You can have all the talent in the world but you need to have a process to win in your mind to be a successful athlete. This is something that I can relate to a lot because as an athlete I didn't always have the best mental process and it caused me to fear failure more when performing than actually having a mindset that would have me play my best on the field. The mental game needs to be practiced outside of the game just like anything else in sports to develop and get the most out of your skills. The first step that should be done in this process is researching people who are experts on this subject and practicing some of the steps they outline. A lot of it involves quieting the mind either through meditation and making yourself live in the present moment instead of living in the past or overthinking the future. Keeping the mind clear and trying to play in a flow state is important for any athlete who wants to play at the peak of his ability. 

    One thing that is very important in the mental game is having confidence in yourself that you can perform at your highest level. Confidence comes from preparation so the more work you put in to improve yourself the more you should have confidence in yourself to perform when your moment comes around in the games. Players that don't have the right mindset when the game comes around could be from a lack of preparation so they don't feel like they have the skills to perform in a game. Another thing that comes with confidence is body language and showing that you're confident can be a big factor in performing at the level that you expect from yourself. 

    My biggest advice when thinking about the mental game is to not make the moment bigger than it actually is. In perspective, sports are fun and you should want to enjoy yourself and not be afraid of failure because you will go through a lot tougher things in life than making mistakes in a game. You need to put in the time on the mental game either through free advice on the internet or by talking to an actual coach but putting this time in will 100% benefit you to perform at your best. To be at your best and achieve peak performance the psychological part of the game is just as important as the tactical and physical parts of the game. Coaches can improve this part of the game for players by considering their mental health and trying to keep constant communication with players on improving their mindset. The best athletes in the world are usually the best mentally, and I encourage any athlete to improve their mindset to make themselves the best player they can be. 



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