Weekend Mental Performance Tip – One Thing ALL Great Athletes Have to Thrive in Sports

Hey there, awesome young athletes and supportive sports parents! Welcome to this week’s Weekend Mental Performance Tip! Today, I’m sharing a game-changer: the one thing all great athletes have that sets them apart and helps them excel in any situation. Whether you’re an elementary age athlete stepping up to bat, a middle schooler aiming to focus in a close game, or a high school tennis player trying to impress a college coach, this one skill will unlock your full potential. At The Purpose Driven Athlete, I’ve spent over 20 years helping athletes ages 8 and up build their mental game, and I’m excited to share this secret with you: self-awareness. Let’s dive into what self-awareness is, why it’s the key to greatness, and how you can practice it this weekend to tackle some of your biggest challenges in sports.

What Is Self-Awareness, and Why Do Great Athletes Have It?

Self-awareness is knowing yourself—your thoughts, feelings, strengths, and triggers—so you can show up at your best in any moment. Great athletes, from Serena Williams to LeBron James, have mastered self-awareness, allowing them to handle pressure, stay focused, and recover like champs. For young athletes, self-awareness means understanding what makes you nervous, what pumps you up, and how to get back on track when things go wrong. It’s the foundation of a strong mental game, helping you:

• Know exactly what to visualize to show up with confidence.

• Manage pre-game nerves with ease.

• Find what gets you in your zone.

• Respond calmly to a bad call from the ref.

• Stay focused when a college coach is watching.

• Rest and recharge between games.

Let’s break down how self-awareness helps with each of these challenges, with tips you can try this weekend to become a more self-aware athlete.

How Self-Awareness Helps Young Athletes Thrive

1. Visualize with Confidence
Self-awareness helps you know what makes you feel confident, so you can picture it before a game. I worked with an elementary age athlete who was scared to swing at a baseball. He learned that picturing himself as a superhero in a safe bubble made him feel brave. By visualizing this, he stepped up to the plate with confidence and took his first swing!
 Try This Weekend: Before your next practice or game, close your eyes and picture something that makes you feel strong—like hitting a perfect serve or making a great catch. Spend 1 minute visualizing it and notice how you feel. Write down 1 word (e.g., “Brave!”) to describe it.

2. Manage Pre-Game Nerves
Knowing how nerves affect you lets you take control. A high school tennis player I coached got nervous before matches, especially when trying to close them out. She realized her heart raced and her hands got shaky. We used deep breathing (3 breaths: 4 seconds in, hold for 4, out for 4) to calm her down, and she said, “I feel ready to play!” Self-awareness helped her recognize her nerves and manage them.
 Try This Weekend: Before your next game, notice how nerves feel in your body (e.g., fast heartbeat, sweaty hands). Take 3 deep breaths to calm down, then write down how you felt before and after (e.g., “Before: Shaky. After: Calm.”).

3. Get in Your Zone
Self-awareness helps you find what pumps you up. A middle school athlete I coached felt flat before games, struggling to focus. He discovered that listening to his favorite upbeat song got him energized and “in the zone.” Once he knew this, he made it part of his pre-game routine, saying, “I feel ready to win!”
 Try This Weekend: Think about what gets you excited—maybe a song, a pep talk, or jumping up and down. Try it before your next practice and write down how it made you feel (e.g., “I felt pumped!”).

4. Respond to a Bad Call
When the ref makes a bad call, self-awareness helps you recognize your emotions and respond calmly. I coached an athlete who got frustrated after bad calls, losing focus. She learned to notice her anger, take a deep breath, and say, “Next point!” This kept her in the game instead of arguing.
 Try This Weekend: During a practice or game, if something frustrates you (like a bad call), notice how you feel (e.g., “I’m mad!”), take 1 deep breath, and say “Next point!” Write down what happened (e.g., “I stayed focused!”).

5. Focus When a College Coach Is Watching
Self-awareness helps you manage distractions, like worrying about a college coach in the crowd. The high school tennis player I mentioned realized she got distracted by thinking, “What if I mess up?” She learned to refocus by saying “Point by Point” to herself, keeping her mind on the game.
 Try This Weekend: If you feel distracted during a game (e.g., thinking about the crowd), notice the thought, take a deep breath, and say “Point by Point” to yourself. Write down how it helped (e.g., “I hit a better shot!”).

6. Rest and Recharge Between Games
Self-awareness helps you know what helps you recover. The middle school athlete I coached felt tired between games, affecting his focus. He realized that sitting quietly with his eyes closed for 2 minutes helped him recharge. Self-awareness turned his downtime into a power-up!
 Try This Weekend: Between games or after practice, try a 2-minute rest: sit quietly, close your eyes, and take slow breaths. Write down how you felt after (e.g., “I felt refreshed!”).

Build Self-Awareness This Weekend

Self-awareness is the one thing all great athletes have—it’s the key to knowing yourself and unlocking your best performance. This weekend, try these activities to build your self-awareness and tackle your biggest challenges in sports. Whether you’re visualizing with confidence, managing nerves, getting in your zone, responding to setbacks, focusing under pressure, or recharging, self-awareness will help you thrive.

At The Purpose Driven Athlete, I’ve seen self-awareness transform young athletes, helping them overcome fears, stay focused, and perform at their best—even in the toughest moments. Ready to help your athlete discover their own mental strengths? Book a free 15-minute discovery call with me today, and let’s create a personalized plan to make sports a confident, empowering experience for your child!

Coach Dave
The Purpose Driven Athlete
www.thepurposedrivenathlete.com
503-351-3812