Forrester PE Dept

Mental factors

 

Mental Toughness

 

Definition

Mental Toughness is the ability to consistently perform at the top of your skill level and talent regardless of the competitive circumstances.

 

Impact on Performance

As you are playing any sport it is important that you are able to block out all external factors.  If you are mentally tough you are able to block out the pressure from opponents, the crowd, coaches, managers, team mates etc.  to keep producing your best possible performance.   If you let these factors affect your performance you are not mentally tough enough.

In the 2013 Wimbledon final Andy Murray was 40-love up and serving at championship point.  Djokovic came back to deuce! The crowd went quiet, the commentators, nation, coaches wondered can he be strong enough to do it?  Murray was strong enough to block out all that pressure and serve to win the title.

In a cup final that has gone to penalties not all players will be strong enough to volunteer to step up and take a penalty.  They would be thinking ….what if I miss, what will the coach say, what will the crowd say, how will the manager react etc.  a mentally tough player will step up, block out all these thoughts and concentrate only on scoring the penalty.