Why concentration is so important in sports
This past weekend's Syracuse upset over Virginia was thrilling. As a sports psychologist, what caught my eye during the game was a 10-second sequence during the first half. Take a look here. Syracuse freshman Tyler Lydon fell and his sneaker came off. His fellow freshman teammate Michael Gbinije picks up the shoe - while he's dribbling - and tosses it off the court. Gbinije then passes to Lydon, who makes a clean 3-point shot… wearing only 1 sneaker. Amazing!
Both players showed a tremendous amount of concentration in a high-pressure game.
Why is focus important for you when playing any sport? It helps in these ways:
Keeps you in the present moment, not worrying about a past mistake or getting ahead of yourself
Gives you the ability to ignore distractions
Lets you better handle anxiety or over-excitement
Allows you to see things earlier and notice smaller details that can give you an edge
Encourages a mind-set that let's you be in "the zone"
So how do you get super concentration skills?
First, you practice, practice, practice, so the ability is second nature, even in big post-season games. Sports psychology skills are the same as any sports skills, in that respect. You practice ahead of time, so the skill comes naturally.
Mindfulness focusing exercises are a great way to build strong concentration. These can actually be practiced anytime, on the court or off. Here are a few simple ways to start:
Focus on just your breathing for a few minutes a day and before playing your sport
Instead of multi-tasking, single-task for a few minutes of an activity. For example, when you eat, just eat. No TV, no email. When you take a shower, notice the warm water and the suds of your shampoo. Don't think about your daily to-do list.
Give it a try, so super focus can be your super power.
Read more Sports Doc for Sports Medicine and Fitness.