Developing Mental Toughness

The most important attribute a player must have is mental toughness.- Mia Hamm

Part of becoming a successful athlete is to recognize what it takes to develop confidence and mental toughness to become a top athlete. In this section we will define the six characteristics of mental toughness. These characteristics and thoughts are ideas about yourself as a person, your life, your athletics, and your everyday challenges. You can teach yourself to be mentally tough just as you can teach yourself how to shoot a free throw.

1. Confidence

It all starts with confidence.  No great athlete has ever lacked confidence in themselves.  The athletes that are confident in themselves have the mindset of belief.  Belief that they can handle any challenge that comes their way.  They are rarely affected by negative thoughts, rather they practice positive thinking.  They believe in themselves and what they are doing.

2. Competitive

Competitors are the athletes that refuse to quit.   Inside them they have a burning desire to win and succeed.  They learn to take failures and turn them into their strengths.  They see an obstacle as just another challenge they will overcome.  No matter what a true competitor will find a way to win despite the odds being stacked against him/her. Learn to hate to lose and love to win.

3. Committed

Commitment and mental toughness come hand in hand.  Athletes that are committed focus their time and energy on their dreams and aspirations.  Commitment is being dedicated even when the chips are down and the situation seems bleak.  Great athletes are committed through the thick and the thin. You have got to want it, the more you want it the easier it is to commit.

4. Control

Before you can control the outcome of a situation you must be able to control yourself and your emotions. This means having your thoughts and feelings in check, especially during big games and pressure situations. The greatest athletes can maintain serenity and calmness even in the heat of battle. Once you learn to control yourself your ability to control the game becomes much easier.

5. Courage

Courage- “The quality of mind or spirit that enables a person to face difficulty,” taking risks is part of life.  Mentally tough athletes can take risks and turn them into motivation to succeed.  They look at risks as an opportunity for achievement rather than a set back. Learn to use and develop the courage you have to take risks and learn from your failures.

6. Consistency

Champions are able to do the mundane consistently day in and day out.  Great athletes use their inner strength and stamina to overcome hurdles, they perform their best when they are feeling the worst.  Learn to do the little things well, they are the building blocks for doing the big things well.