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This is the first in a series of Pressure Tips to help you overcome any fears or limitations that are holding you back and get your came to the next level!

This first video in a series of Pressure Tips helps you understand how to be intense without being tense…

Step #1 is you need to start practicing being in pressure in your imagination, so you are ready when you experience it in real life. This is what is otherwise known as a desensitization process. The more you experience it, the easier it gets to go through it. You can do this completely in your mind.

I also call this: Pre-living your success and the key is to put yourself in that situation you normally struggle with and practice imagining yourself doing the thing you WANT to do instead of the thing you don’t want.

Now, some athletes might say, that sounds like Visualization and you wouldn’t be wrong. However rare is the athlete who mentally imagines being in a pressure situation and THINKING the way you need to think, in advance and doing it over and over and over until it’s the normal response come game time.

Use Your Imagination before going to sleep at night or while daydreaming during the day, imagine yourself being in a high pressure situation and coming through with flying colors.

You need to practice being in pressure in your imagination, so you are ready when you experience it in real life.

Pre-live it in as much detail as possible how you want to be thinking at the critical moment of truth.

Click the graphic to learn more about the Mental Toughness Training for youth athletes.

How To Motivate Kids In Youth Sports

How To Motivate Kids In Youth Sports

TRANSCRIPT

James, a 14 year old select basketball player was told by his coach that he needed to work on his mental game to get more playing time. Toward the end of the game when the pressure was on, he often started playing timidly. When he had some open shots he should have taken, he would pass off, afraid of missing and disappointing the team.

I asked him if he ever “imagined” in his head missing shots under pressure and feeling bad about it and he said “Yes, that’s why I don’t shoot or drive to the hoop.”

I told him that he just needs to turn the story around so that you imagine MAKING the shots under pressure and to do it 100 times a day until his next game.

Before going to sleep at night or while daydreaming during the day, imagine yourself in that high pressure situation and coming through with flying colors. Pre-live it in as much detail as possible how you want to be thinking at the critical moment of truth. Practice saying powerful things to yourself like: “I can do this” “I am a clutch player” “I want the ball.” Imagine being intense, but not tense! Calm, yet passionate. Do this over and over in your mind and come game time, you will be ready. James took my advice and in the next game, scored 10 points in the 4th quarter and is now starting on his team.

Craig