I received a question about what to do if an athlete hyperfocuses on instruction during games to the point where it keeps them from playing their game.
When athletes hyperfocus on instruction from coaches during a game, there are a few ways that this can hold them back.
What Happens When Athletes Hyperfocus on Instruction During Games
One of the first ways is that when we overthink or overfocus on instruction, it can take us out of the moment when we play because we’re thinking about what coach wants us to do differently. We’re thinking too much about that to the point where we’re no longer in the moment, and in the rhythm of the game.
This brings me to the second main reason—which really plays off of that first reason of taking you out of the moment—that causes you to underperform due to this hyperfocus on instruction: it keeps you from being as athletic.
Within my one-on-one coaching, I talk to athletes about the difference between our practice mentality and our game mentality. During practices, we want to think through our technique more, especially when we are doing drills. During games, we want to let go and be athletic.
We need to allow ourselves to play.
But during games, when you’re focusing too much on instruction from coach, this will keep you from being as athletic. It will keep you from being in the flow. And no matter how helpful that instruction is, if you’re thinking about it too much, you won’t be as athletic, which means you won’t be performing your best.
When Overfocus Leads to Over-Control
The last reason that this will hold you back is when you are not as athletic and when you are focusing too much on the instruction from coach—this leads to overcontrol.
I was talking to an athlete this past Saturday who has historically struggled with overthinking and then overcontrol when he competes. He ends up overthinking his mechanics because he knows that there are things that need to be worked on—and that’s perfectly fine.
But because he’s thinking about what needs to be worked on when he competes, he’s now trying to force himself to do it correctly. He’s overcontrolling his mechanics. By overcontrolling, he is not allowing his natural muscle memory and talent to come through.
So when we are not as athletic—when we try to overcontrol—this can lead to stiffer movement patterns and more tension when you play because you are overthinking, overcontrolling, and trying to force yourself to do it perfectly like coach wants you to do.
How to Take Feedback but Still Play Your Game
So if you do receive instruction midgame from coach, how do you go about taking this feedback and applying it to your game in an effective way?
Because I also understand from being an athlete myself that coaches can get really upset if they give you feedback during a game and then they see you ignoring that feedback. But I also know how unhelpful it can be when you fixate on that feedback to a point where it causes you to be taken out of the moment, not play as athletic, and then try to overcontrol.
So, there are three tips that I have for you that can help you not hyperfixate on what coach says—but still take what coach says to help you play better, make adjustments, and improve your game.
1. Make a Simple but Broad Adjustment
The first tip is that we want to make simple adjustments—but without being too contradictory—we want those simple adjustments to be broad.
Let’s say that I’m a soccer player and coach gives me the instruction about where I need to be on the field. Maybe my positioning wasn’t as good as it needs to be. That can be taken in a simple way where I just tell myself, “Okay, focus on positioning right now.”
That’s a simple adjustment. If I think about it that way, that’s not me overthinking it. I’ve taken coach’s feedback and turned it into an objective to focus on right now.
But if I get too specific with that and I’m constantly concerned with what position I’m in—“Am I in the exact right position I need to be in?”—now I’m overfocusing. I’m overthinking it.
So this is what I mean when I say it needs to be simple but broad. The simple thing is positioning—that’s the only thing I need to think about right now. Broad means the general positioning I need to have: “Let me make sure I’m getting in front of the person with the ball” or “Let me make sure I’m getting more toward the sideline.”
When we get too specific, we get too much into the weeds, and that’s when we hyperfixate and overthink.
Another example—if you’re a hitter in baseball and coach tells you to let the ball travel more during your next at-bat because you were too far out in front before—you could go into that next at-bat thinking, “I have to make sure I let the ball travel all the way to my back hip before I swing.”
That’s too much thinking. But the simple, broad adjustment is, “Let the ball travel.” I would tell myself that before stepping into the box, then simply remind myself, “Be patient.”
So we do want to take feedback, but make sure the adjustments are as simple as possible—one thing, thought about in broad terms.
2. Take Note of What Coach Says After Games
The next tip is that you want to take note of what coach says after games.
During games, if coach gives you feedback, make simple adjustments. You do need to make an adjustment, but what’s most important is staying in the moment, staying present, keeping yourself in the flow of the game—not overthinking the mistake or the adjustment.
After the game, think through the mistakes you made and ask yourself, “How can I work on this? How can I improve?”
Take note of what coach said. If coach keeps telling you the same thing, write it down and make sure you’re working on it during practice. That’s how you take what coach says and use it to help you grow—without letting it mess with your mindset during competition.
3. Remember: Practices Are for Improving, Games Are for Playing
This brings me to the third tip: remember that practices are for improving, and games are for playing.
Games are for letting yourself play and letting yourself be athletic. Yes, we need to make adjustments during games, but no matter what adjustment you make, if you’re making that adjustment from a mindset of overthinking or hyperfocusing, that’s going to create additional problems for you.
During games, make simple adjustments—but remember that the time to really work on this stuff and turn it into muscle memory is during practice.
So don’t just hyperfocus on what coach says during the game. Take note of it, work on it during practice, and then when you go into your next game, keep your thinking simple so you can stay present.
Maybe that means you focus on what coach said—but that doesn’t mean you’re overthinking it. It means you set it as your objective for the day.
It’s more about the mentality and mindset we have toward these adjustments than anything else. When you’re hyperfocusing, you’re really just overthinking.
We can make adjustments, work on them in practice, and set objectives going into games—but we don’t need to overthink them. Because the overthinking is what keeps you from playing your game and from being athletic.
Final Thoughts
So yes, you do want to make adjustments. You do want to listen to your coach. But during the game, make those as simple as possible. Keep them broad. Don’t get too specific. Don’t start to overthink.
Then, really work on that feedback from your coach during practice so that come the next game, you’re in a better position to play freely and perform at your best.
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Thank you for reading and I wish you the best of success in all that you do.
