Derek Jeter, Kobe Bryant, and Tom Brady are all great athletes in the clutch, and while you may not ever achieve the same level of success they have over their careers, there are some things you can work on to improve your abilities to ply your best in clutch situations. Sport psychologists regularly talk about the concept of “mental toughness,” and when athletes learn how to master the mental game on the field or court only then can they begin to take their game to the highest level.
This week I would like to offer 5 key traits regularly seen in athletes who love to have the ball in their hands when the game is on the line:
- Clutch athletes make their teammates better. While it is true that the star athlete usually receives most of the attention after winning big games, what often goes unnoticed is how much better he or she makes the rest of the team though unselfish play, unparalleled enthusiasm, and a motivation to play till the final whistle. Clutch athletes regularly look to keep teammates involved and usually share their success with the rest of the team, too.
- Clutch athletes play with conviction. Clutch athletes are only interested in winning during the battles of a game, and not concerned with anything else. Clutch athletes throw everything they have into every shot, pass, block, and tackle and know that if they give their absolute best on every play good things will happen.
- Clutch athletes play “in the zone.” By setting goals and focusing to play their best every day, these athletes often play “in the zone” by being able to minimize outside distractions while at the same time playing with great focus, confidence, and resiliency.
- Clutch athletes strive for excellence, not perfectionism. Playing to be perfect is guaranteed to do only one thing for you — cause more anxiety. Since we can never be perfect, clutch athletes have figured out that it is much better to strive for excellence, and when mistakes are made (which is inevitable) it is better to learn from them rather than let them cause stress and frustration. Great athletes are always looking to get better, and know that there is great learning to be had during tough times.
- Clutch athletes know that the only play that is important in sports is the next play. Clutch athletes know that you can’t do anything about the last play, and that by putting 100% focus into the next play there is always a chance to win that play, and maybe still win the game.
While it is true that not every athlete will become a great “clutch” athlete, there are things that athletes can do so that they can continually strive toward being great in the clutch. The tips provided here can help you get started!
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