Athlete's Mental Gym
Mental Skill: Know When a Performance Problem is Mental or Physical
Many athletes assume that a performance problem they have on the playing field is due to a physical problem such as poor mechanics or positioning. Some problems, however, are the result of mental errors that, if not detected, can continue to limit your performance. The questions and analysis below can help you determine if a performance problem is physical or mental so you can apply the right solutions and play up to your full potential.
Situations When Performance Errors Occur
- The performance error I currently make occurs in a variety of situations during games or matches. Yes or No
- The performance error I currently make occurs primarily when I am in high stress situations. Yes or No
Analysis: If your error occurs in different situations, such as always hitting inconsistent tennis backhands from the baseline because you grip the racquet inconsistently, you probably have a problem with your technique. If your error occurs only in high stress situations, the problem is probably mental and has to do with your ability to cope with the stress.
Variety Of Problem Areas
- When I have a problem, it involves only one part of my performance (such as your turns in swimming). Yes or No
- When I have a problem, different things are going wrong with my performance at the same time. Yes or No
Analysis: If the problem involves only one part of your performance, such as your golf putting, then your problem is probably due to poor mechanics. If that same problem impacts other areas of your performance, such as mistakes in your drives and chip shots, then the problem is mental because you are having difficulty dealing with the stress you feel.
Satisfaction With Your Skills
- When my performance is going well, I am satisfied with my skills. Yes or No
Analysis: If you are performing well and not satisfied with your skills, then you probably need to improve some area of your mechanics. Your mental performance may not be a problem unless you are too critical of yourself and have an unrealistic expectation of needing to be perfect.
Feelings About Your Performance
- When I have problems with my performance, I feel bad about how I am doing.
Yes or No
Analysis: If you have a problem and feel confident that you can improve, then you may need to focus only on mechanical improvements. If you feel unconfident, tense and nervous, and question your ability to improve, then the problem is mental. In that situation, you can improve a small part of your technique so you become more confident in controlling your development.
