Anticipating and Managing Challenges During Competition
Quick Summary:
- Strong mental performance comes from anticipating and preparing for challenges before they happen.
- Identify both mental (negative thoughts, frustration, loss of confidence) and physical (off days, bad conditions) challenges you’re likely to face.
- Create resetting strategies — like deep breaths, self-talk, or reframing — to refocus when distractions or setbacks occur.
- This type of preparation builds confidence and consistency, helping you perform freely even when things go wrong.
- Don’t hope for perfection — plan for imperfection so you can stay composed, focused, and mentally tough in competition.