Mentally Tough At Critical Moments

"Mental toughness is a process of using your mind to gain the most from your abilities."
Karl Kuehl, John Kuehl and Casey Tefertiller

At any point during a game, the athlete may find himself facing a difficult and challenging game-time situation. Maybe, he has made a mistake, been called for a penalty or finds himself being verbally and physically taunted by an opposing player. Maybe, the coach just put him in the game because the best player on the team has been injured or the team is already behind on the scoreboard by twelve points in the first quarter. 

Whatever the challenge is, the athlete is trying to maintain his concentration and composure while, at the same time, deciding how to mentally manage that game-time situation. He wants to keep his head in the game, control his emotions and find a solution to the problem facing him. It's all about being mentally tough at a critical moment.

Mental toughness is a combination of believing in yourself, being passionate about playing the game, celebrating your strengths, keeping your focus, having the desire to succeed, knowing how to bounce back from a poor performance, and fueling the competitive spirit. It's having the psychological edge over your opponent by coping with the various demands of the game, and being able to stay in the moment with confidence, and feeling as if you're in control under pressure. 

Being mentally tough is knowing what you must do to achieve your goal, seizing the opportunity to win, not being fazed with a mistake, and really loving the pressure of competition. Beginning with a sense of optimism and self-belief, the athlete builds his mental toughness through the use of mental imagery, self-talk, relaxation techniques, emotional control, and setting goals. 

Tone Lanzillo
Mental Skills Coach
risson1954@gmail.com