Goal Setting For Higher Confidence
Performing at your peak in sports revolves around having the proper focus and going after your goals.
Effective goal setting and focus work together to improve your performance.
Goal setting includes:
- creating a goal
- outlining a specific course of action
- following through by acting on your plan and evaluating your progress
Goal setting helps improve your focus on what YOU need to do, builds confidence (confidence increases when you focus on what you do well), and lessens anxiety about future outcomes.
Tampa Bay Rays outfielder Wil Myers was touted as one of the game’s best young hitters while in the minor leagues.
Though the 22 year-old Myers didn’t make his major-league debut until June 18 of this past season, he put up impressive stats with the Rays: .293 batting average, .354 OBP, .478 SLG along with 13 home runs and 53 RBI in just 88 games played.
Myers played great when his team needed him most as the Rays battled to clinch the second wild-card spot in the American League during the last game of the regular season, hitting .308 with four home runs and 14 RBI in September.
Myers was rewarded for his confident play and focus by being voted the American League Rookie of the Year for 2013 receiving 23 of 30 first-place votes in the process and achieving the award while playing the fewest games ever for an AL position player.
Myers alluded to his mental focus as the key for his success.
“I think the biggest thing, you have expectations of winning, so you put all your expectations on winning each game for your team and you set aside your personal goals. I really think that gets the best out of each player… when they go out just try to help the team win and do whatever they can to win.”
Myers didn’t focus on his personal statistics but what he could do each game to help his team win.
By expectations, I think he means confidence in his team’s ability to win.
Myers played each game with a specific goal in mind and the sole focus on what he needed to do each play to help his team achieve success.
Myers’ clear plan of action and focus on the present moment help squelch the fear of failure.
Myers is already letting go of the previous year, in order to focus his efforts of improving his present game and create new goals for the next season.
“I definitely want to go out and try to be one of the best players in the game. Obviously, winning this award gives me some confidence going into next year, so I’m going to work hard this offseason, work on the things that I need to work on and get ready for next year.”
To enhance your likelihood of success, you must work smart.
Create a plan of the two or three things you will commit to improve.
Dedicate yourself to develop new positive habits.
As your technical skills improve, your confidence level will rise.
During games, focus on the things you need to do to help the team succeed, not your personal statistics.
You will need to evaluate your progress daily and re-adjust your plan as necessary.
A target is not enough, you must shoot (act) and aim (focus) on the target.
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Related Sports Psychology Articles
- How to Best Focus to Help Your Team Win
- Do You Focus Too Much on Numbers
- Top Strategy for Staying Focused While Pitching
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Instilling Confidence in Baseball And Softball Players
Confidence, more than any other mental game attribute, is vital for your team’s success. If your players have it and know how to keep it, they maximize their success. Your team cannot reach their full potential unless each player can harness the power of stable and enduring self-confidence–so your team can perform as a confident team.
Your players might possess a ton of physical talent, have great coaching, and train harder or practice more than anyone else in your league, but if they do not have the self-confidence to match, your team can’t utilize this talent.
“Instilling Confidence in Baseball and Softball Players” program consists of one 72-minute audio CD that includes 7 days of confidence-fueling exercises. You’ll also receive a simple-to-follow 74-page coaches’ manual that guides you through the 7 team session you’ll conduct!