7 Keys to Excellent Sports Performance

It's one of my favorite times of year, spring. That means baseball time (and softball if you're like me and still play). I love it. I love the sound of the ball hitting my leather glove when warming up. I love the feeling of a cleanly hit line drive ball. You can feel it if you hit the ball well. So it made sense to me to write about sports performance with so many of us returning to the field for yet another season. Although I play for fun, I like to play well also.

So much of any athletic game is "mental." This isn't new. You've hear it before. But what does this really mean? And, how do we use our mind to achieve positive results? Here are 7 Keys to Excellent Sports Performance.

1. Love the game you're playing. Don't play it for your parents, coach or because girls or guys will like you better. Play whatever game you play because you love it. This really goes for everything in life. Love what you do. It will show.
2. Decide what you want. This means to have an idea in your head of how well you want to perform. This step happens repeatedly through an entire game. When you get ready and leave for the field, you should have an idea (a picture or vocal commentary) in your mind of how you will play today. How will you look, sound and feel while playing? Decide ahead of time just how excellent you want to be.
3. Get in State. "State" is your internal feelings which result in a physical manifestation and the pumping of adrenaline and other good natural performance enhancers found in your body (naturally). The best state for performing well are Excitement and Confidence. Many people think that they should be relaxed. Wrong. Relax and your opposition will run right by you. Play a particular cd in your car on the way to the fields. Make it one that rocks and pumps you up.
4. See the Success. Visualize your self succeeding. And, Visualize what you'll look like when you have this high level of success.
5. Hear the Success. What will being that good sound like? What sounds (internal and external) go with playing at a high level? What do you need to say in you head to propel you forward.
6. Feel the Success in every cell of your body. *Steps 4,5 and 6 together are your Rehearsal for your success. Rehearse a lot. It really works.
7. Anchor this state so that you can easily recall it at any time you need it. I recommend using something like a closed fist gesture pulling in to yourself with and auditory "yes" for maximum effect. Eventually, all you'll need to do is fire off (do the gesture and say :yes") the anchor and you'll immediately return to your resourceful state.

Good luck. Play well. Have fun. If you think you need help with this, send me an email. We'll arrange a time for you to talk to me in person or on the phone.

John Hudome, DCH

"Workout and eat as if your life depended on it."