Photo by David Matos
It’s undoubtedly true that all top athletes need to be at the peak of physical fitness – a state that can only be achieved through intensive training and practice. But, in recent years, other elements have also started to play a part in the realm of elite sports. One of the factors for success is good sports nutrition.
While this plays an important role in an athlete’s physical fitness, their mental state is considered to be even more vital. This has led to an increase in sports psychologists, with many athletes in both individual and team sports having one on the payroll.
Traditionalists might roll their eyes at the idea but there are many advantages to be gained from using sports psychology to enhance performance.
Dealing with distractions and setbacks
One thing that is essential for playing sports at the highest level is to remain focused. But when the going is tough and there are so many distractions around the pitch or stadium it can be easy to lose that focus. Similarly, when things aren’t going right for a team, it’s easy to take the eye off the ball. A good sports psychologist can help to develop coping strategies to make sure that this is never an issue.
Instilling team spirit
Communication and cohesion are both vital qualities that winning groups must acquire and psychological team-building exercises can accelerate the process. Effective communication can even help teams to outperform the wildest expectations.
So, next time you’re looking to pick a winning team, try to check out what psychological support they’ve been getting. It can be hard to know the state of mind of the players, but that’s where a risk free bet comes in handy when betting on the team’s next game. If it turns out that their preparations still need a little fine-tuning, you’ll still get your stake money back in the form of free credits for the future.
Positively visualizing success
There’s a theory that has been tested out extensively in the past and which has been conclusively proven to be true. If someone imagines themselves succeeding before they need to prove themselves, it can hugely help the process. That’s why sometimes baseball hitters head out into the diamond before a big game to visualize hitting that vital home run. But it’s a skill that needs to be learned as it’s a form of meditation that only a good sports psychologist can teach.
It’s well-documented that confidence is the true key to sporting success. This is the foundation on which all the other pillars of sports psychology are based. Without it, none of the other benefits already listed will count for very much. Providing the tools to build up this confidence is probably the psychologist’s most important role.
Combine it with hours and hours of practice, and huge natural ability, and it will always be the way to build winners.
