The Psychological Side of Sports

We train our legs, our arms, our back—but what about our mind? Psychology is an aspect of athletic training that should not be overlooked.


The psychological side of athletic training is still rather neglected; however, this is starting to change, and people are slowly becoming aware of its importance. Our internal dialogue affects our performance greatly; it can help us or hinder us. An underconfident person is likely to fall short of their goals, while a confident person has good chances of achieving their desired results.

Athletes are recognized not only for their physical aptitude, but also for their mental attitude and their ability to:

• Make the most of any situation and always give their best,

• Make good decisions,

• Manage their emotions,

• Calm themselves down or talk themselves up to attain their desired efficiency,

• Stay self-confident, and

• Foster solid and harmonious relationships with their peers.

Best practices

Here are a few tips for putting theory into practice.

• Meditate regularly to identify your internal source of motivation (determine what you want to achieve, correct, or improve).

• Live in the present and focus on the benefits of the workout.

• Set realistic and measurable goals.

• Because talent alone is not enough, a good dose of passion and a winning attitude are also vital!