Mental Game - How to react after having a bad game?

How to react after having a bad game?

Self-talk is the primary determinant of how you perform in a competition. At no time is self-talk more important than after having a poor game. The things you say to yourself after a bad performance will determine if one bad game snowballs into the next few games.

If you want to rebound after a bad game, you need to manage your self-talk instead of allowing self-criticism to dominate your mind and ruin your future play.

You can easily talk your way into a slump by saying things such as, “I can’t buy a shot,” “I play bad in the playoffs” or “Here we go again... My bad luck is just going to continue.”

Negative self-talk affects your confidence causing you to second guess your game for fear you will miss again. Negative self-talk leads to lower self-confidence and guarantees another bad game.

Some players think positive self-talk is just a pie-in-the-sky approach, as if they are merely giving themselves a false pep talk. These players feel positive self-talk is merely a lie they tell themselves and simply does not work. Positive self-talk is not an attempt to talk yourself into something; positive self-talk is a form of self-coaching.

Your coach has a game plan for how to defend your opponent and win the game. Self-coaching or positive self-talk is a way of defending yourself against negative thoughts in order to play your best and win the mental game.

Here’s how to react better to a poor game:

Remember that self-talk can work for you or against you, so you need to control the conversation in your head. Instead of letting your thoughts run wild, consciously remind yourself of three things:

1. Everyone has bad games.

2. This bad game is not an indication that you have lost your ability.

3. Recall your recent performances where you played your best.

Consciously directing the conversation in your head is the key to bouncing back and performing optimally.

Don't forget to remind yourself of your talents and what you have as an athlete--those things that stay with you no matter what.