There are three components of any sport, Physical, Technical and Psychological. Physical component is about stamina, flexibility, strength, etc. Technical component is about the sports specific techniques. Psychological component is about clear thinking, self-belief, staying focused, etc. It has been seen that mostly players and coaches focus on the technical and physical components of the game but not many focus on the psychological component of the game. So even if a player is technically very sound he may not be able to perform up to his potentials in matches if he is not mentally prepared.
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At National and International levels the technical skill level of all the players is mostly the same, what matters is the psychological and physical fitness of the player. Hence most of the top players and coaches say, that at a higher level the game more than 90 percent psychological. As at a higher level players under perform in important matches due to the psychological factors like pressure, sudden loss of concentration, low self image etc. Why is this so? This is like if you have a nice car with a powerful engine, and the car is well maintained but if the driver is not trained on how to drive the car you have to face severe consequences for it. Similarly if you are technically very strong and physically fit but if you have not trained your mind you would face its consequences in matches especially in crucial situations or pressure situations. Why mental training? Because when you play your sport you play it with your head on your shoulders. You don’t keep your head aside while you are playing. So like you train your body you need to train your mind too. It’s very important to have mental training as part of your regular sports practice.
Now when do you say a particular player requires mental training?
1. When the player performs better in Practice than during matchesHis practice game is flawless, but in competition, his performance is below par. He feels free and loose in practice and then is plagued with doubts or indecision in the competitive arena.
2. When the player has a tough time performing well when others are watchingWhen others who he cares about, (such as parents, fans, coaches) are watching him perform, he becomes too self-conscious of their presence, and loses his focus on the task. Often he may even worry about letting others down or failing in front of others.
3. When the player is not sure why he plays his sport or what motivates himHe participates in his sport but is not sure why he does so. Maybe he plays to please other people in his life or to make someone else happy. Maybe he participates because his friends do or think it is cool to play that sport. He might not have any real goals that he wants to accomplish or even know what motivates him.
4. When the player loses focus or has mental lapses during critical times of the game.During critical times he has trouble thinking clearly because of the pressure to play for his coach, teammates, or fans. He commits simple mental errors that he wouldn’t normally do in other less threatening situations.
5. When after an injury the player is physically 100% recovered, but he can’t perform the way he did pre-injuryMany athletes who have sustained a major sports injury have trouble regaining their confidence post-injury. Even after the doctor gives him a clean bill of health, his mental scars have not healed. He may be afraid of re-injury and this causes him to play tentatively. Or he may have lost his confidence and wonder if he can return to previous performance levels pre-injury.
6. When the player wants to improve his mental attitude or performanceHe does not have an identifiable “problem” or mental challenge in his sport, but he wants to improve his mental game and get better.
So before going further to the mental training techniques lets first find out in which of the above categories do you fall?
