Take a moment to think about this question, are you having fun playing your sport? It is a simple but essential idea to reflect on. In the hustle of trying to make varsity, pleasing your parents, or earning a scholarship, it can be easy to lose sight of the fundamental purpose of sports: joy. …
On December 14, 2021, Stephen Curry made his 2,974th 3-pointer to set a new all-time record for most three-pointers made in NBA history. When the ball swished through the net, the 19,000+ fans watching live erupted into cheers, and an international celebration commenced across the basketball world. Today, Steph is regarded as one of…
In the modern age, boredom is hard to come by. When we have a moment to pause during a busy day, most of us pull out our phones for some quick entertainment. While it is a natural response to alleviate boredom, research suggests that boredom has a variety of mental health benefits, which we will…
Let’s face it, anxiety is the worst. It is physical and mental—a relentless combination of muscle tightness, a queasy stomach, racing thoughts, and constant “what-if” questions. Our natural inclination when we feel anxiety is to try to get rid of it. This response makes complete sense. Why wouldn’t we want to get rid of anxiety?…
Training without clear goals often leads to frustration. When progress feels unclear, self-doubt can start to consume an athlete’s mind. Setting up SMART (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound) goals is important to help avoid unclear feelings and frustration. SMART goals help athletes turn vague intentions into focused action. Instead of saying “Get faster”…
Athletes aren’t just performing in competitions; they may feel the pressure to perform online too. Social media has become a huge part of people’s daily lives, and athletes are no exception. It is a space to celebrate wins, post highlights, and stay connected. Over time, social media can quietly shift from a fun outlet to…
Every athlete chases a moment, but what happens when that moment ends? “You work your whole life to celebrate winning for a few minutes”. That’s how World No. 1 golfer Scottie Scheffler describes the emotional aftermath of winning. With 16 career wins, including three majors, Scheffler has lived the dream many athletes chase. But…
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”…
Fear is not a sign of weakness; it is a sign that you care about your performance. In sports, mental toughness is often misunderstood. It’s seen as being fearless, emotionless, or completely unfazed by pressure. The truth is, even the strongest athletes feel fear. The difference between athletes who are successful vs athletes who…
Today, we would like to share three key mental game strategies identified by NBA sport psychologist Dr. Alex Auerbach. In his decades of work with world-class athletes, he analyzed three of the most important mental techniques that successful athletes use, and we’ve included them below. Technique 1: Add Some Fixed Mindsets to Your Growth…