How to Improve Self Confidence in Sports

From seasoned professionals to recreational participants, all athletes share one common requirement in order to succeed -- self confidence. Without this key ingredient, the best physical training regimen in the world won't result in top athletic performance or attainment of personal potential. However, harnessing the power of self confidence to fuel sports successes can prove challenging at times for even the most talented of athletes. With practice and discipline, though, almost anyone can enjoy relatively consistent athletic self confidence -- even in the face of those inevitable performance slumps and plateaus.

Things You'll Need

  • Notebook
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Instructions

    • 1

      Write down both sports performance and athletic training goals in a notebook or journal used solely to track your progress in sports. Include long-term (or lifetime), medium-term (next six months to a year) and short-term (next week to six months) goals. Set short-term and medium-term sports and training goals that are realistic and attainable, taking into account the amount of time you have to train and you current level of fitness.

    • 2

      Outline a realistic training plan in your notebook that will help you accomplish these goals. Set aside the majority of your training time for working on those aspects of your physical sports performance that hold you back the most from attaining your goals. In other words, write down your areas of weakness. Include daily mental training time in your training schedule outline.

    • 3

      Follow the physical training plan diligently, working toward your short-term training and performance goals every day you train.

    • 4

      Spend at least five minutes every day in a quiet, comfortable place with no distractions. Visualizie yourself improving at your sport and achieving your goals. Make your visualizations as realistic and detailed as possible, including what you're wearing, other people, air temperature and desired outcome.

    • 5

      Create several short, positive affirmations that you can repeat to yourself (such as "I can do this" or "Strong, strong, strong"). Use these statements to buoy self confidence and to help push you through difficult workouts or athletic events. Affirmations can help you focus by distracting you from listening to your brain's messages of distress while you're involved in a difficult or painful part of sports training or performance.