Confidence

Confidence plays a major factor in the success of sports, as well as life. When athletes have a high level of self-confidence in what they are doing on the field or court, it can lead to a successful performance.

While many athletes enter their sport or competition with a high level of confidence, many others might have a significantly lower level of confidence. If you are among the group with a low self-confidence, you are not alone. Even athletes who are naturally confident experience low self-confidence in certain situations. The challenge for all athletes is to find ways to keep confidence high so they are able to compete at their greatest potential.

What does it mean to have confidence in sport?

Confidence, by definition, is the belief an individual has concerning their ability to succeed and reach a given level of performance. Think about some of the greatest athletes of all-time: Roger Federer, Serena Williams, Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant, Albert Pujols, Tom Brady, Pele, Lionel Messi. You could likely name quite a few more. These athletes certainly have a number of things in common, but one characteristic that helped them reach the highest level was a belief in themselves. For some, it hasn’t come without struggle, and digging deep, you will probably find that they had to work on some aspects of their mental performance. But their dedication to all areas of performance is what helped each one of them climb to the peak in their sport. The good news, is, you can, too.

Why is confidence important?

Have you ever heard an athlete say before the game they know they are going to win? They KNOW they are going to hit a home run, or score five goals, or serve for eight aces. The truth is, they don’t actually know and sometimes that can come across as arrogance. In most cases, it isn’t arrogance, but a high level of confidence.

Confidence, not arrogance, is a great thing. An arrogant athlete is one who feels superior to all others. A confident athlete, however, is one who believes strongly in his or her ability to perform a certain task. They have such a strong belief that they are able to overcome failures. It is easy to see how confidence can positively impact performance. WHen an athlete does, however, experience an inevitable setback, they are able to see it as an opportunity to improve.

But what truly happens when confidence suddenly isn’t there? Because an athlete is confident in one moment doesn’t guarantee an endless career of confidence. Slumps and dry spells happen for various reasons, and that can negatively affect confidence. There are ways to get back the confidence you once had, and get back to your winning ways.