Just as athletes warm up their bodies before a competition, so should they warm up their minds. It takes mental and emotional preparation to "get into the zone.”

Dedicated time to mentally prepare in the hours before competition can increase confidence and reduce negative self-talk. It helps to have a mental warm-up routine and to practice getting into the right frame of mind even when it is not game-day.

Coaches should keep this in mind and help their athletes prepare mentally and emotionally. Explicit, coach-led pre-game routines can help more than just the typical scenario where athletes just listen to music. In sports and in life, every part of preparation matters so it is important to teach this to young athletes in particular.

To view how explicit mental preparation affects performance, check out this resource here or click the download link below.

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