The Rules of Sports Psychology

Here’s our list of the top ten mental maxims for sport – tried and tested concepts that lead to great performances.

If you can’t decide what Sports Mind Skills product might suit, read through the rules, see which strikes a chord and review our suggestions.

1. Process over outcome

If you maintain a consistent focus on the performance aspects of your sport – executing skills in a timely and effective manner, employing appropriate tactics and strategy and pacing well – you can be sure that results will take care of themselves. If you can fill your mind with stuff related to performing and there won’t be much room left for any nerves.
Recommended: Dealing with Distractions, Fill your Mind With What Matters, 14 Steps To Mental Toughness, Develop Supreme Mental Toughness, Inner Game of Tennis, Thinking Body, Dancing Mind, Flow in Sports.

2. Develop pre-competition routines

Well-crafted routines (not superstitions) help put you in a frame of mind for good performances and assist with mental relaxation. They give you confidence that your preparation is complete.
See: Major Competitions, In Pursuit of Excellence.

3. Associate with good people and methods

Most sports require individuals to work hard for many years to generate the potential to compete on a world stage. This can only be done efficiently with help. For your long term prosperity, aim to develop and nurture relationships with coaches, training partners, team mates, family and friends. The regular contacts you have with these people will determine what sort of athlete you can become.
Consider: Developing Team Unity and Leadership, The Coach's Guide to Team Building, How to Win Friends and Influence People.

4. Use imagery to pre-think skills, tactics and strategy

Notice how elite athletes seem to have all the time in the world when making decisions? That’s because they’ve already decided what to do in a given set of circumstances by having already thought about the options – “If he does that I’ll do this.”
Recommended: Dealing with Distractions, Imagery Training Package plus titles under your specific sport.

5. Use imagery to practice skills

See and feel yourself training and competing. You can use imagery to learn new skills, practice old ones and see yourself performing in locations you’ve never been to all without getting sweaty, tired or injured! Scientific research and anecdotes from elite athletes offer compelling evidence that imagery enhances performance.
Try: Imagery Training Package, Visualization Skills and other sport specific products.

6. Whether you think you can or can’t, you will.

Self-belief is core to success in any endeavor.
Look at: Your Performing Edge, Developing Confident Athletes: A Coach's Guide, Self-talk for Confidence and Motivation, Major Competitions, Facing Challenges.

7. Set goals

Set realistic and high goals for yourself to provide motivation and focus to your efforts.
Take a look at: Goal Setting for Success - a Coach's Guide, The Perfect Mile, Goal-Setting for Success, Periodization Training for Sports, Goal-Setting for Sailing.

8. Remember that the choices are yours

Since you’ve chosen to train and compete, you may as well do it well. Choose to commit totally to your goals.
Consider: The Way of the Champion, In Pursuit of Excellence and our selection of Motivational Sports Speeches.

9. Practice makes perfect

This age-old maxim is true for your mental skills as well. You can develop and practice your mental skills on and off the field. It only takes a few minutes a day.
Investigate: Imagery Training Package, Visualization Skills plus other products in under your sport.

10. Have fun

It’s just sport, right? Look forward to challenging situations, try hard, enjoy yourself and be proud of your efforts.
Try these: Overcome Pre-Game Nerves, Serenity: A Suite of Four Guided Imagery Meditations, Putting Competitive Anxiety in its Place.

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