It’s almost the end of the game or match, it’s highly stressful time and your coach calls a timeout and calls your number. You’re getting the ball to score the final point of the game or match. How will your perform?
A Real Athletes' Experience
Two weeks ago at a volleyball power hitting clinic, I asked the clinic participants to close their eyes and play this scenario in their heads and then tell me what they saw themselves do in the actual situation.
The first athlete told me she saw herself hit the ball down on the court and score the point; match over. Great! Unexpectedly, the second athlete said she hit the ball into the net and lost the point. Wow!
What’s the reason why both of these highly competitive athletes had such dramatically different outcomes? They both train a lot physically on the court at practice and in the weight room doing their conditioning training. If you said “it’s all in their heads”; I would agree with you, it is!