Mindset is key

After interviewing the golf kids a couple of weeks ago, I really got to thinking about the fact that your mindset is huge when it comes to success in many things, and it definitely is when it comes to sports.

Having an appropriate mindset for whatever sport you are participating in is the key to allowing you to perform at your best when you are competing.

Sometimes, an upswing and peak in adrenaline production can help your performance, but sometimes it will destroy your game.

I know that, in golf, losing control can and will have a big impact. When I used to golf, I remember feeling frustration that led to anger, that led to wanting to throw my clubs into the water hazard to never retrieve them.

The energy those feelings created then caused me to play even worse.

But there are some sports where frustration which leads to anger can fuel aggression, which, if you can control and focus it, will give you the energy and confidence to elevate your performance to a higher level.

I remember playing basketball, and when I would get fired up it would empower me to play much better defense and sharpen my competitive spirit to play my best.

Obviously, you have to be able to channel any energy into productive efforts in whatever you are doing, but that’s what having the right mindset is all about.

We’ve all literally seen players — or even teams — give up and roll over against an opponent when adversity strikes. The way they carry themselves, the amount of effort they put forth, and just every aspect of their game seems to wither.

When that happens, you know the other team has the upper hand and will ultimately win the game.

On the other hand, you can also see it when a team determines to win and almost wills it to happen. Their effort and willingness to give it their all becomes evident, and inevitably good things happen.

Of course, having a team full of athletic talent is a plus, but we’ve all heard the saying that winning is 99% mental.

Even with a roster full of talent, if players lack the mindset to win, even the best will struggle.

Looking around Wyoming’s 3A Conference, you can see the schools who cultivate that winning mentality. Obviously, you must see success in order to establish and maintain that mindset, but maybe to get those vital wins under your belt, you have to sow the seeds of that winning mentality.