Sports Psychology Coaching

Mental Training

Four Phases of Mental Training

If you are anywhere near being a serious athlete, you should be doing mental training. There are four phases:

1. Learning: Here you learn, adjust and change skills and habits.
   
   
2. Long-term development: You need persistence, mental toughness, patience and insight for the long haul.
   
   
3. Mental readiness for performance: You need mental preparation routines to get into the zone.
   
   
4. In the performance: You need to let go of errors, trouble and problems and refocus on the task at hand.

In addition, mental training teaches you to:

1. Make a commitment to mental training.
   
   
2. Know the reasons you play and compete.
   
   
3. Accept the ups and downs of an athlete's life.
   
   
4. Delay immediate gratification for long-term development.

A major secret to mental training?

Embrace the journey.