Preparing for a game physically and mentally will only get you so far. What makes sports fun to play and watch is that the outcome is unpredictable! You never know what you might encounter on any given day of competition. Athletes are the most successful when they can adjust during a game to optimize their performance.

Reframing is an important tool to help you keep a mental edge during a game. This is a three-step process that ultimately takes the “glass half full” approach:
1.) Something disrupts your plans.
2.) You experience negative emotions, like disappointment, discouragement, or sadness.
3.) Rather than allowing that initial reaction to stick, you reframe and ask yourself how you can make something good come from it.
Instead of denying that something bad happened, try to find a way to make it a learning or growth opportunity. Turn reframing into a habit, and you’ll find great poise and ability to deal with adversity as an athlete and beyond.

The other tools suggested in this book excerpt include developing a self-control routine, utilizing transformational self-talk, and tips to preventing choking. The last page of this book excerpt includes a worksheet on Honing Your Mental Game. Plan to use the tools outlined here to reach your best performance in competitions, and utilize them for optimal game prep.

This PDF was excerpted from Jim Thompson’s book Elevating Your Game. To purchase the entire book, and to learn more about other PCA books, click here.

These books are used in PCA’s live workshops. To learn more about our interactive student-athlete workshops, click here.