Three Ways to Destroy Your Ability To Compete-Quickly!
by: Dr. Leif H. Smith

If you want to become the kind of athlete that people always talk about in terms of "potential" rather than results, following the following formula:

1. Focus on that which you are scared of

In the world outside of sports, a common principle is that we get results according to that which we decide to focus on. The same is true in the sports world. In any given moment, your emotions are directly linked to that which you are deciding to think about (or, focus on). Take two examples:

Which scenario would equate to a better match for this wrestler? Obviously scenario A. This wrestler focuses on everything that will help him compete. He focuses on his long hours of training, he uses positive self-talk to stay confident, and he feels ready for the fight. The wrestler in scenario B does the opposite. He focuses on what he DOESN"T want to happen. He doesn’t want to get pinned, so he comes up with a plan to avoid doing that. He recalls feelings of embarrassment, and as a result, is tight during his match. He will, of course, most likely get pinned. Why? Because if you focus on that which you don’t want, you will get it!

2. Engage in problem-focused thinking (instead of solution-focused thinking)

Mediocre competitors spend most of their time focusing on the problem instead of the solution. They focus on everything that is going wrong, or how they can never seem to win, or how they can never seem to score points on this certain wrestler, etc...The result is that they become entangled in their problems and fears, never to escape and find a solution. They become so caught up in their issues that they never stop and solve that which caused it!

Top competitors, on the other hand, still make mistakes. However, they try to learn from their mistakes so that they will not repeat them. They still get pinned, lose big matches, miss key free throws, miss wide open shots on goal, etc. However, they bounce back quicker, and stronger, as they put their energy into finding a solution to their problem. They focus on ways to get in better condition, how to get out from bottom quicker as a wrestler, how to concentrate better when shooting free throws, how to relax when put in big game situations, etc...

3. Hesitate

Hesitation destroys our ability to compete. This is particularly true with fast-paced sports, such as football, basketball, baseball, lacrosse, wrestling, etc, where there is less down-time. A common theme among sport psychologists is that hesitation equals "paralyzation by analyzation." If you try to stop and think about how you are going to block that 240 lb linebacker, you will soon see the world from on your back. If you stop and think about where you want to shoot on the goalie in hockey or lacrosse, the defense will soon be upon you, and you’ll never get that shot off. And if you do, it will be a hesitant, unconfident shot. Get the picture? The time to think is when play is stopped, not during. Those times are different for different sports:

You get the picture. The time to think in sports is when play is prior to competition and during play stoppages. Come up with a game plan, then execute. If it doesn’t prove effective, change your plan, and execute. Try this exercise: sign your name on a piece of paper. Now, I want you to duplicate it exactly. EXACTLY. Try it. What happens? Most people slow down and think about it when they are duplicating their signature. The result is a signature that is not close to being similar. You’re better served by not thinking and just signing. And this is merely one small example of the way that your mind can interfere with performance, if you let it. Don’t be one of those athletes.

Copyright (2004) Leif H. Smith, Psy.D. All rights reserved.