Sports psychology 2 encourages coaches to consider the power of the mind by demonstrating how thinking positively generally leads to positive actions being taken and how thinking negatively generally has the opposite effect – or leads to no action being taken at all.

“My thoughts before a big race are usually pretty simple. I tell myself: get out of the blocks, run your race, stay relaxed. If you run your race, you’ll win…channel your energy. Focus.” – Carl Lewis (sprinter)

Learning how to see things positively doesn’t mean wearing rose-tinted glasses. In fact, it means being able to see things exactly as they are but also being able to see the potential for things to change. World renowned psychologist Carol Dweck considers this state of mind to be a growth mindset.

A person in a growth mindset believes:

• Who they are and where they are now (in life) can potentially be changed by dedication and effort
• Nothing is set in stone
• ‘Natural’ abilities or talents can always be improved or developed further
• Further learning and/or practice can lead to greater things

A sportsperson in a growth mindset will always be a glass half-full thinker and open to making changes. Failure to win is therefore never seen as out-and-out failure but as an opportunity to learn. Being open to further learning means things can be changed and improvements can be made.

Without a growth mindset, a person becomes locked in a fixed mindset.

A person in a fixed mindset believes:

• Who they are and where they are (in life) is just how things are and nothing they do is ever going to change that
• Everything is what it is and we’re stuck with it
• Any ‘natural’ ability or talent is just something they were born with – a given
• Further learning or practice won’t change anything, things are just the way they are

A sportsperson in a fixed mindset will always be a glass half-empty thinker and completely closed-minded in terms of making changes. Failure to win is therefore  viewed as simply failure. An athlete in a fixed mindset will often judge themselves harshly and a poor performance will always be seen as conformation of their lack of ability – which can’t be changed – so a negative, downward spiral begins.

Clearly, developing a growth mindset is essential if an athlete is to stand any chance of achieving their full potential or to make any progress at all in their sporting career. Mindset can be changed. An athlete in a fixed mindset can be coached into a growth mindset but obviously this requires a coach who already possesses a positive mental attitude themselves. Sports psychology 2 equips coaches with the necessary skills to recognise and understand their own mindset as well as that of their athletes.

Thinking positively allows positive changes to be made. Analysing a less than perfect result can remain a positive, motivational experience focussing on strengths and areas to develop further rather than a negative, de-motivating experience which can leave an athlete wondering if there’s any point in staying with their sport at all. Sports psychology 2 not only helps to keep athletes in a positive climate but coaches too, allowing a positive partnership to grow and progress – onwards and upwards.

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World Cup 2010