Every athlete has an internal dialogue. For driven athletes who set high standards for themselves, self-talk can become a source of pressure. The desire to succeed, coupled with internal expectations and external demands, makes negative self-talk more likely to develop. The inner voice may plant negative thought patterns in an athlete’s head, “Don’t mess up” or “You aren’t good enough”.
Negative self-talk can fuel an athlete’s anxiety. When inner dialogue is negative, it can increase self-doubt, break focus, and make the pressure of games feel even heavier than normal. The good news is, the way you talk to yourself can always be changed. Athletes have the ability to train their inner dialogue. When athletes learn to direct their inner voice with intention, they are developing a strategy that helps manage stress and strengthen confidence.
Positive self-talk isn’t about pretending everything is okay. It’s about choosing a language that helps ground the body and direct the mind. In anxious moments, intentional and healthy self-talk can slow the nervous system, bringing attention back to the controllables: Breath, effort, and mental presence.
Various tactics, such as acknowledging aspects that are within athletes’ reach, help steady the player instead of spiraling about things that are out of their control. Reframing one’s thoughts can shift the body out of panic and back into optimal performance.
Over time, intentional self-talk builds confidence, not because athletes no longer struggle, but because they remind themselves they can handle struggle. Phrases such as “Keep going” or “I have earned this moment” can encourage athletes, especially in moments of self-doubt.
Recognizing and redirecting internal language is important because it helps athletes bounce back faster, focus longer, and trust themselves more deeply. The way an athlete speaks to themselves affects how they feel, how they act, and how they recover. Positive self-talk doesn’t erase pressure; it gives athletes a way to move through it.
So, when anxiety rises, athletes must remind themselves that the next play starts with their self-talk. Mental strength is built through the words athletes choose when the pressure is high.