Help him to stay happy, confident and on top of his game.
Confidence is a key factor in determining performance in team and individual sports. To gain confidence you must continually strive to become better; this will give you the assurance that you are a skilled and talented athlete. Sports are often highly competitive, and it is sometimes difficult to keep that positive self image. When you feel your confidence waning, it is important to find ways to bolster that inner assurance to keep the game enjoyable and you at your best performance.
Instructions
1. Rehearse the game in your mind beforehand. Close your eyes and relax. Visualize yourself on a big screen TV and watch the events of the game unfold. Watch yourself respond to difficult plays and emerge the victor. Encourage each member of the team to participate in these visualization exercises to build confidence before a game.
2. Learn to mentally isolate mistakes. Often when a mistake is made on the court, field or rink, a player will attempt to overcompensate for the error. This is an attempt to cushion the negative mental impact, but often leads to a second error because the mind is focused on compensating, breaking the concentration often necessary to play well. Encourage your players to let go of their mistakes on the field. You can use them later to help improve the game the next time, but they have to put the mistake aside while still in the game. This will lead to less consecutive errors and a more confident player.
3. Make a negative experience work for you by turning losses into positive opportunities to learn from mistakes. Calm down for a few minutes after a game and then construct a list of at least three things that could be improved upon for the next game. Make a list and discuss ways to practice implementing these improvements. For team sports, try to avoid singling out any member's particular mistakes when possible and try to focus on ways that team members can help each other to improve individual skill and technique.
4. Make a list of your positive attributes, skills and techniques, and have your team members do the same. Be honest with yourself and write everything in the present tense. For example, "I am an excellent runner." Recite the list aloud, say it to the mirror and then repeat it to anyone who will listen. The purpose is to put you in a positive state of mind by recognizing your qualities and to have the confidence to share your list with others. If you have to fake that confidence for a little while, go ahead.
5. Remember why you are playing the game. The pressure of the competition often creeps up and makes a player forget the love of the sport. While winning may be the objective, you joined the sport because you enjoy it. Try to keep this in perspective before, during and after the game. Think about all the aspects of the sport you enjoy and use these to keep your spirits up.
Tags: after game, Make list, team members