MENTAL SKILLS AND ABILITIES CHECKLIST FOR ATHLETES
John Couture
Have you been developing and refining your mental skills and abilities?
Have you been applying them consistently in games?
What are your current mental strengths and limitations?
Are you personally accountable for your mental development?
What actions are you taking to get better at the mental side of your game?
Use the checklist below to assess your mental skills.
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I. QUALITY PREPARATION---preparing myself mentally to compete, day in and day out, and over the longer term.
1. Perspective--- I balance my sport effectively with the other important parts of my life
(e.g. family, community, religion).
2. Personal Awareness---I understand and accept my current strong points and limitations, and play within myself, while working to remove limitations.
3. Self Motivation---I set sport -related goals that are controllable, and I pursue them with enthusiasm.
4. Mental Discipline---I have a solid pre game approach and game plan, which I implement with patience, persistence, and perseverance, even despite adversity.
II. COMPETITIVE FOLLOW THROUGH--- taking quality preparation into the game and sustaining my competitiveness, play by play, second by second, no more, no less.
5. Self Confidence--- I believe in my abilities to get the job done, on the field/court.
6. Emotional Intensity--- I keep my emotions at an effective level for me, in order to successfully execute---not too high, not too low.
7. Focus--- I keep my mind calm and centered on the process of performing, one play at a time, thereby preventing harmful distractions and mental mistakes.
8. Composure--- I cope effectively with competitive stress and anxiety, through sound mental routines (breathing, visualization, self talk, solid body language, other actions)?
9. Teamwork--- I communicate and interact productively with teammates, coaches, and others, and assume a leadership role as appropriate.
III. ACCURATE EVALUATION--- being honest about and responsible for my performance.
10. Self Esteem--- I hold myself as a person in positive regard, no matter how I perform. I do not get a big head, about things, nor do I put myself down.
11. Performance Accountability--- I accept responsibility for my game performance and evaluate it, in a systematic way, game by game.
12. Continuous Improvement--- I challenge myself to always become better, both on and off the field.
