Whether you are a sports hobbyist or a top professional athlete, the mental component of sports is what separates the successful athletes from the frustrated ones. Although the games we play and watch are visibly physical, the key to success in sports is based on mental preparation and approach. It almost always determines the outcome between two opponents who are fundamentally “evenly matched.”

This means that, among the other aspects of training and preparation, mental clarity is an essential element in all sports endeavors. How many times has it been said that one athlete or team has the “mental edge” over another?

In sports, better mental preparation means superior performance. In fact, when done right, mental preparation is actually more important, because it also allows better physical practice and performance. It’s your pre-game rituals, listening your favorite song, that pre-game huddle with your teammates, meditating or anything else you can do to get yourself “in the zone.”
We’ve all seen the outcome of the opposite. A highly skilled athlete in a poor mental state will underperform his or her capabilities. With the right preparation, however, players can transcend their own abilities. It can also influence fellow teammates, as we often see one team go on a run that seems unstoppable after one particular player “gets hot.”

To get started, identify each aspect of your sport, then analyze each part of that aspect. For instance, make sure you are using the right equipment, since there might be new equipment or training innovations of which you are not aware. Some football quarterbacks throw better with a glove on, and some do not. It is very important to be realistic about your own strengths and weaknesses before deciding how to proceed. That’s one of the great attributes of sports: There’s always a way to re-invent

Here are the main areas to consider, whether you are a sports hobbyist, an aspiring athlete or an experienced professional. Evaluate each sport you participate in as a separate entity:

• Physical conditioning and practice
• Equipment
• Support and mental conditioning
• Weaknesses
• Strengths
• Limits

To clarify the above, physical conditioning is different from practice because it supports training. Support covers vital areas such as mentoring, living situation and emotional health. It also includes finding the support you need and the type of situation in which you thrive.
Mental conditioning applies to visualizing situations in advance to be better prepared for whatever unfolds. And, of course, when you do train, make sure to leave it all on the mat so good habits are formed for game days.

Next, figure out ways to fortify your weaknesses or even turn them into advantages. Here, it’s important to be brave enough to experiment. A tennis player who cannot hit a hard first serve may develop a strategic spin serve, just as a baseball pitcher who cannot throw hard may develop alternate pitches.

Most important to us all is the use of truth and freedom. This means that breakthrough thinking requires an honest evaluation of yourself, coupled with freedom of thought. Leave judgmental attitudes behind when weighing options. Ask penetrating questions and be honest with how you answer yourself. After unearthing numerous options and possibilities, focus on the best ones to establish your direction. In the end, your integrity will determine how you progress.
Mental conditioning also brings up a major part of sports competition that is often overlooked; call it “peripheral vision,” if you will. You’re dialed in. You’re in tune with the action around you. Everything clicks, and time slows down as you deftly maneuver through each play. We’ve all experienced it before, but how can you make it happen consistently? It is not only knowing your own tendencies but also those of everyone on your team, as well your opponents’ teams. The ability to anticipate and spatially locate opportunities and pitfalls is what separates greats from the rest of the pack. This skill is honed by the continuous use of breakthrough thinking.

Capitalizing on strategic options is a key to success in most sports. Golfers must adapt to varying weather and course conditions that constantly mandate changes in club use and game strategy. Players must be well-versed and prepared to make changes that may seem spontaneous but are actually contingency plans carefully formed in advance.

Your mental edge in sports is often the difference between winning and losing, since all actions come from some form of thought. Breakthrough thinking reminds us to hone our minds as diligently as we hone our bodies and to put some extra “mental sweat” into everything we do.

By Gene Jones

Gene Jones is a nationally acclaimed thought leader and expert on breakthrough thinking who has created the Triviation method. This approach is instrumental in analyzing strategies, identifying solutions and creating successful systems in all areas of modern life. As a former athlete, Jones often applies his formula to the world of sports. For more information, visit triviation.com.