Mindfulness

Each athlete, coach, parent typically say things to themselves or believe certain things about what might happen about a sporting event. The thoughts may promote worry, anxiety, or free
them from worry, tension, anxiety. Thoughts, behaviors are the foundation of confidence or the decay of confidence. What sets up emotional reaction to an event is what a person or persons say about or perceive as the "threat" of an event. It takes some skill to let go of the "noise" and focus on preparing and participating fully in the event itself without judgement of the outcome.

Opportunities for mental distractions are bountiful. Typical worries begin as a one sentence fuse and often build into a mountain of "what ifs." The key is to be aware of the thoughts without being pulled into the whirl pool of them.