What does it take to not only succeed in a particular sport, but to become a champion?
A Champion’s Mindset!
Everyone knows it is the mind that allows you to execute athletic performance with your body. In other words, an athlete’s perception of a situation in their mind, dictates the outcome of that situation with their body. Simply stated, you cannot separate the mind and body.
Your mindset will dictate your outcome in athletics and in life. Let’s look at several key factors in a champion’s mindset.
BE POSITIVE:
Whether it is offseason strength and conditioning, volunteer practice, pre game warm up, or the game itself, a players attitudes toward the situation will determine their outcome in a situation. This also pertains to aspects outside of training and competing such as working on your nutrition or sleep. Being negative about any aspect of preparing for or participating in a sport will hinder an athlete’s development. A champion’s mindset is about always being positive and taking advantage of every opportunity they “GET TO” prepare and participate in their sport.
BE PRESENT:
Let’s pretend you’re the third basemen for your high school team. It’s the 9th inning and the game is on the line. You are physically there but your mind is on the test you failed earlier in the day. You are thinking about how angry your parents will be, that you may get grounded and won’t be able to hang out with your frie... CRACK! oh crap, the balls coming! Because your mind was thinking about something else, your reaction time is slowed, you may miss the ball or even worse, get hurt. Maybe you get lucky and make the play but at the very best, it will be sloppy execution. You were not present and thus you were not prepared. Champions stay present in every moment. Whether that is when the game is on the line or when they are going through a simple warm up, being present in every moment separates champions from also rans. It’s also important to note that if you are not present, you can not be focused.
BE FOCUSED:
Being focused is about dialing in on crucial aspects of the sport or competition. Yet, focus isn’t just for when you are competing. When you’re not able to train or practice, you must be visualizing situations that could occur in your sport. As a competitive powerlifter I visualize lifts every day, hitting that squat at a big meet or locking out that third deadlift to take the win. Visualization keeps your mind engaged on your goals and fixates attitudes toward your sport in a positive manner. I could write a whole article on visualization but we’ll save that for another day. If you have visualized winning or making the big play over and over again in your mind, when the situation presents itself, you will be able to make the play easily with your body. You must remember that champion’s mindset includes focus during more than just the crucial moments in sport, it’s a constant endeavor.
BE A CHAMPION:
If you’re an athlete yourself, I challenge you to sit down and write out expectations, values, and short and long term goals. If you are a parent, do the same with your child. Becoming a champion does not happen overnight, and it definitely does not happen by accident. You must build a plan and execute it to the best of your ability. Your perception of your plan will determine your level of success. Using the strategies above, you will develop the champions mindset necessary to accomplish them.
IN CLOSING:
There are many factors that go into being a champion. When we talk about being a champion, we are talking about being champion for yourself, not compared to others. Doing everything you can to reach your full athletic potential makes you a champion. Some people think of being a champion as beating everyone else in competition, but there are many factors you cannot control with this definition. Natural ability, timing and luck play a big role in beating opponents in competition, and those you can not control. However, one thing I can guarantee, regardless of your definition of a champion, is that you will never become one if you do not use the strategies above and develop a Champion’s Mindset.