Many times, the definition of confidence in sports is misunderstood.
Athletes believe confidence means to always feel great while playing flawlessly and never make mistakes. However, true confidence is based upon having the ability to react once something has gone wrong.
Making mistakes is a part of the game. The most important aspect of this is how we react when our mistakes occur.
Why confidence tends to be so fragile.
Athletic confidence tends to drop after:
• a mistake
• a strikeout
• a missed assignment
• a difficult discussion with the coach
After experiencing these situations, many athletes will begin to reflect inwardly. They will replay the mistake in their head. They will begin to doubt their abilities. Their attention will shift away from the current game they are playing to the moment in which they would like to erase the previous mistake.
At this point is where resilience becomes vital.
Resilience is a skill that can be practiced and developed.
Resilience is not the act of pretending mistakes do not exist. Resilience is the ability to continue moving forward without allowing a mistake to affect the next decision or action you take.
Below is a simple “reset” procedure that athletes can apply in real-time:
1. Acknowledge it.
Do not try to ignore the mistake. Recognize the mistake for what it is and allow it to stand as is.
2. Release it.
Breathe deeply, physically relax your shoulders or hands. Allow your body to recognize that it is time to transition from the previous action to the next.
3. Refocus on the next task.
Ask yourself one simple question: What do I need to accomplish at this time?
This complete reset may only require a few seconds.
Confidence arises from trusting your actions, not from perfecting your actions.
Athletes who are the most confident are not those who never experience mistakes. Athletes who are the most confident are those who trust themselves to handle the consequences of those mistakes.
Once you understand there is a method to reset, mistakes no longer appear to be emergencies, but instead are opportunities you can address.
As you continually work through this process, you will begin to establish a quiet, consistent confidence. The type of confidence that will not disappear as a result of one poor performance.
What you should remember going forward.
If you desire to create confidence that will endure:
• Anticipate mistakes
• Put your reset procedures into practice
• Focus on the next opportunity, not the last one
Confidence develops as you demonstrate to yourself that you can remain focused and continue to compete, even when situations appear to be uncomfortable.
This is resilience. Developing resilience is one of the greatest investments an athlete can make.
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