How to Deal with Freeze
Freeze. A deer in the headlights, unable to move out of the way of the oncoming truck. But, the symptoms of freeze aren't always so blatant. You aren't always frozen and unable to move. In fact, most of the time it shows up in other ways. Subtle symptoms you would...
How to Maintain Motivation When Training Gets Tough
You're sore. You're tired. You don't want to go into training today. Your friends invited you to a party, but you turned them down because of training. Now, after seeing your friends' pictures, you regret your decision. "I should have gone," you say to yourself....
Find Your Why to Bring Back the Fun
It's the start of competition season. You're having a blast. Practice is fun. Workouts are fun. Everything is easy. You're enjoying yourself. Then, the big events roll around. The events you've been training for. The events that really count. Suddenly, you're no...
Mastery is the Key to Success
Everyone makes mistakes, even professional athletes who are at the top of their game. And, everyone seeks perfection. But, perfection is a myth. When we say, "My technique isn't perfect," what we really mean is, "I can’t do it consistently 100 percent of the time."...
How to Overcome People Pleasing
Are you a people pleaser? Do you worry that you'll be forced to quit competing if you don't perform well? Do you worry about what people might think about you based on how you perform? Thoughts like these that come from being a people pleaser are distractions. They...
A Safe Training Environment Promotes Mental Resilience
Success in sports requires an athlete to master complex technical skills, be in optimal physical condition, and cultivate a resilient mental mindset. Most busy coaches don’t have time to specialize in mental resilience in addition to their technical duties, and often...
Keep Your Head in Your Lane to Swim Faster
You're standing behind the blocks, waiting for them to call you up. Out of the corner of your eye, you see the next swimmer over. You do a double take. It's the fastest swimmer in the competition. As you step onto the blocks, you can't help but watch them. They look...
Focusing on Your Competitors Will Distract and Psych You Out
You are getting ready to compete, your eyes scan around to profile your competitors. Your mind starts to race with questions as you analyze the competition. Who is taller and shorter than you? Is the champion from the last competition there? Can you beat them if they...
Why Do I Perform Well During Practice and Choke During Competition?
You're an athlete. You practice. You compete. But, for some reason, you always perform better during practice than competition. Why? Why do you perform well during practice, but not competition? The answer to this question is simple. You're focusing on the wrong...
Mistake Ritual: Maintain Your Athlete Mentality in Competition
When it comes to competition, nothing can take you out of your peak performance or flow-state faster than a mistake. Whether you miss an easy putt in golf or fail to stick to the landing in a gymnastics tumbling routine, mistakes can cripple your performance. Many...