The Psychology of a Great Athlete

THE PSYCHOLOGY OF A GREAT ATHLETE FOR ATHLETES, MENTAL RESILIENCE IS A KEY INDICATOR OF SUCCESS. There are exceptions to the typical physical requirements, but the mental ones can be harder to bypass. Drive and volition, confidence, focus, calm and emotional control are some of the psychological characteristics of the most successful athletes on the planet. NIR 23 "[Professional athletes] just work as hard as they possibly can. And that DRIVE is usually propelled by intense passion for their sport; they just love playing the game." DRIVE AND VOLITION - JIM TAYLOR, PH.D. VOLITION: THE DELIBERATE ACT OF DECISION-MAKING. For athletes, volition is comprised of self-motivation and the use of psychological skills, as well as the comprehension of emotional response. These tactics combine to generate self-confidence. WORK ETHIC: Everyone sees the greatness of a big-time athlete. But you don't always see the sum of hours it takes to achieve that greatness. TOTAL COMMITMENT: MARIA SHARAPOVA turned that work ethic into commitment. As a child, she was often first on the court and the last to leave. CONVICTION: "I can't" should never be uttered by a MOTIVATION: "You miss 100% of the shots you don't take." - WAYNE GRETZKY pro athlete. MICHAEL JORDAN was cut from his high school basketball team: what if he had given up then? Believing in yourself and your abilities is a substantial contribution to any accomplishment. It may also be a determinant of performance and efficacy in leadership. CONFIDENCE FAITH: "It's lack of faith that makes people afraid of meeting challenges, and I believed in myself." - MUHAMMAD ALI DESIRE: "If at first you don't succeed... I was given the ball 27 times with ten seconds left in the game and the winning shot in my hands.. and I missed." MICHAEL JORDAN ABOLISH DOUBT: "If you don't have confidence, you'll always find a way not to win." - CARL LEWIS EXPECTATION: "My mind is my biggest asset. Texpect a win every tournament I play." – TIGER WOODS PERSEVERANCE: "Obstacles don't have to stop you. If you run into a wall, don't turn around and give up. Figure out how to climb it, go through it, or work around it." – MICHAEL JORDAN The best athletes have practiced staying cool under pressure and against opposition. CALM MANAGE TILT: "Tilt has many causes and kinds, but it has only one effect. It makes us play bad. It makes us do things we wouldn't do if we were at our very best. And that's how I want to define it, exactly like that. Tilt is any deviation from your A-game and your A-mindset, however slight or fleeting." - TOMMY ANGELO HANDLING PRESSURE: "No matter how tough, no matter what kind of outside pressure, no matter how many bad breaks along the way, I must keep my sights on the final goal, to win, win, win -- and with more love and passion than the world has ever witnessed in any performance." - BILLIE JEAN KING SOURCES OF STRESS FOR ATHLETES: Errors (physical and psychological), penalties, injury/pain, coach criticism. EFFECTS OF STRESS ON PERFORMANCE PHYSICAL EMOTIONAL PSYCHOLOGICAL Reduced motivation, anxiety, lost focus, poor decision- making, exhaustion, "choking" Turmoil, behavioral problems Acute stress may compromise physical performance and reduced satisfaction FOCUS Focus means reigning in the ability to react quickly, but in a controlled manner. Attentional control may make the difference between an average athlete and a superior one. PURSUE THE GOAL: "I hated every minute of training, but I said, 'Don't quit. Suffer now and live the rest of your life as a champion." - MUHAMMAD ALI MAKE YOUR GOAL THE TOP: "I play to win, whether during practice or a real game. And I will not let anything get in the way of me and my competitive enthusiasm to win." – MICHAEL JORDAN ABOLISH DISTRACTING THOUGHTS: "Concentration is the ability to think about absolutely nothing when it is absolutely necessary." RAY KNIGHT Emotions factor into an athlete's abilities more than you might think. It ties back into confidence and mental strength, using acquired psychological skills to control these emotions. EMOTIONAL STRENGTH ENTHUSIASM: “Enthusiasm is everything. It must be taut and vibrating like a guitar string." - PELE PASSION: "I run because it's my passion, and not just a sport. Every time I walk out the door, I know why I'm going where I'm going and I'm already focused on that special place where I find my peace and solitude. Running, to me, is more than just a physical exercise... it's a consistent reward for victory!" - SASHA AZEVED0 CONTROL: "Learn to control your emotions or they will control you." - EDGAR MARTINEZ GREAT ..... ...... ATHLETES SOCCER BASKETBALL PELE MICHAEL JORDAN JOHN CRUYFF LARRY BIRD DIEGO MARADONA LEBRON JAMES FOOTBALL HOCKEY JOE MONTANA WAYNE GRETZKY JERRY RICE MARIO LEMIEUX BRIAN DAWKINS GUY LAFLEUR BASEBALL RUGBY HANK AARON GARETH EDWARDS LOU GEHRIG MICHAEL JONES NOLAN RYAN DAVID CAMPESE BOXING MMA JOE LOUIS ANDERSON SILVA MUHAMMAD ALI FEDOR EMELIANENKO SUGAR RAY ROBINSON RANDY COUTURE PROVIDED BY: BESTCOUNSELINGSCHOOLS.COM SOURCES http://www.iaaf.org/mm/Document/imported/42036.pdf http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/the-power-prime/200912/sports-what-makes-the-great-ones-great http://thesportdigest.com/archive/article/developing-effective-athlete-leaders-implementation-leadership-program-focuses-psychological http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/the-power-prime/200912/sports-what-makes-the-great-ones-great http://thesportdigest.com/archive/article/stressing-understanding-and-coping-acute-stress-adolescents-athletes-competing-team-sports http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/the-power-prime/200912/sports-what-makes-the-great-ones-great http://thesportdigest.com/archive/article/developing-effective-athlete-leaders-implementation-leadership-program-focuses-psychological http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/the-power-prime/200912/sports-what-makes-the-great-ones-great http://www.fuel-my-motivation.com/motivational-quotes-for-athletes-1.html http://www.thinkexist.com http://www.brainyquote.com http://www.quoteland.com http://quotations.about.com