Coach Monika says…
Fall is almost here! School and Club try-outs are usually part of the September schedule and parents tend to get as anxious as their athletes over upcoming events.
Here are some tips from well-established Sport psychologist, Dr. Patrick Cohn. I have permission to cite part of his post with some modifications on my part.
Eight Tips to Help Athletes Mentally Prepare for Try-outs
- Make sure your athlete leaves expectations at home; they won’t be beneficial – only create stress, anxiety, and self-doubts because the greatest limitations are not physical, but mental
- Make sure the focus is on ‘one’ play or routine or performance at a time. Avoid thinking about outcomes or potential ‘cuts’
- Encourage your athlete to let go of mistakes, and focus on the next play, round, event or performance
- Tell the athlete to look confident, keeping their head up, shoulders back, and standing and talking with self-assurance
- Encourage your athlete to connect with future teammates. Coaches want to see athletes communicate and demonstrate leadership, even in try -outs
- Tell your athlete to be a ‘teachable’ one, and try to make changes provided by the coach
- Inspire your athlete to look forward to showcasing their skills at the try-out
- Tell your athlete to HAVE FUN!
Reference:
Patrick Cohn, PhD, and Lisa Cohn
The Ultimate Sport Parent
Peak Performance Sports, LLC
Mental Training for a Competitive Edge
407-909-1700/888-742-7225
www.peaksports.com
www.mentalgamecoachingpro.com