Control What You Can in the Moments You Own

Control what you can in the moments you own. When the game is going, or when practice is in full swing, you are at the mercy of your situation. The noise is deafening—coaches, teammates, and parents want your attention when all you are trying to do is perform at your highest level.

Look for moments of balance. You can find these before you leave the locker room for practice, in the moments before you enter the stadium or arena, and on the bench in-between matches.

Close your eyes, take a few deep breaths, and focus on your heartbeat.

When you open your eyes, you are in a new moment. What happened before doesn’t matter. Only this moment right now.

Smile, take a deep breath, then stand up with a fresh new perspective and a positive attitude.

No matter the situation, you control your attitude and effort. Do this whenever you feel overwhelmed. Make it a habit to take a beat and breath. Practice positive self-talk and tell yourself what you need to hear to get back out there and perform at your highest ability.