What is a mistake?

False start leading to disqualification

The website dictionary.com describes a mistake as an action or judgment that is misguided or wrong. Some examples of mistakes commonly made by athletes involve: hitting a ball too hard or too soft; not running fast enough; failing to slow down in time; jumping too early or too late and not staying within the bounds of your designated area while competing.

Mistakes can be a form of distraction

Making mistakes often hinder you from executing your game plan. These errors may prevent you from playing to your strengths and capitalising on the weaknesses of opponents especially, during crucial moments. Distractions may set in, like wondering what teammates, fans or coaches may be thinking. Attention may be given to what was done wrong versus figuring out how to correct it. You may feel sorry for yourself and focus on all the things that are not going your way. What is happening here is that mentally, most of your attention and energy are being invested into things out of your control and away from the task at hand/the present moment/your role/executing the game plan.

How do mistakes occur?

Fans can be a good thing or a bad

Generally speaking mistakes may occur when you forget what is supposed to be done. Sometimes you are sidetracked by distractions in the sporting environment like the crowd. Pressure from opponents is the essence of competition and this usually causes mistakes to occur as well. As we say in Trinidad and Tobago, “pressure does bust pipe”. A lack of self belief might be one of the biggest reasons because when you do not have the belief that you are strong enough, fit enough or talented enough then, you have already lost because 100% effort will not be given into being strong on the ball, being fit to finish the game or knowing that you have trained and have the talent to compete against the best.

When do mistakes occur?

Everything is on the line

Mistakes are common and they have a significant impact on athletes when the perceived importance of a situation is high. Some typical instances are during finals, tournaments, knockout stages and qualifiers. In less intense environments like playing “pick up”, a “sweat” or “small goal” mistakes can still have a negative impact, as long as you perceive the scrimmage as important in some way or another. You may want to give a good display of talent, a girlfriend or boyfriend may be looking on or you may be a perfectionist.

5 Ways to Deal with Mistakes

1. Understand that a mistake is an Action Not an Individual Trait. In one of his post game interviews, Michael Jordan explained his views on some mistakes he made during one of his challenging years as a basketball player, “no one is perfect...when you make a mistake, you got to stand up and accept it and move on.”

     2. Every Problem has a Solution. It is important to accept and understand that a mistake was made. Identify the underlying cause of the mistake (technical or mental). For instance, technically you may have poor technique and a mentally you may be distracted by the noise of the crowd and cameras during the final stages of a tournament. Finally and most importantly, analyse what went wrong and fix it. Coaches can help here via constructive criticism and by helping you directly or indirectly solve the problem. Use your coaches, pick their brains and ask them questions.

   3. Stay Positive. “Keep your head up” is a term that is often used loosely. However, it is important to literally keep your head up, maintain good posture and positive body language; these are the things you would normally do when you play at your best and full of confidence.  This tells your opponents that you have not given up, you are no pushover and you are ready to fight to the end. Think for a second about how you would feel if you saw your opponent looking depressed (shoulders slumped, frustrated and  looking down at the ground). You may feel as if you have already won and this will fuel your confidence and desire for victory. Well, the opposite is true as well when you do it. Opponents will feed off apparent weaknesses, so staying positive mentally and physically are essential in dealing with mistakes.

    4. Never Give Up. What does this mean? Sometimes you may feel to quit after a mistake or mistakes. You may feel as if it is too late to come back or you are too far behind. However, what true champions will tell you is that THEIR WILL TO WIN, HEART and PASSION makes it impossible to give up. That passion can be found in anyone and it helps when you remember why you are playing your sport?  What made you start to participate in this particular sport in the first place? Where do you want to go in terms of your career? How would you want people to remember you after you are done participating?

   5. Embody a Cue Word/Phrase or Action. What can you say, think or do that will bring back your frame of thought on your role and function to the present moment? This is something (anything) that you can say to yourself or do that reminds you of the sport you have dedicated part of or most of your life to, something that reminds you of the things that you are good at as an athlete, something that reminds you of the things that you need to do that will facilitate you playing at your best and putting pressure on your opponents. Some athletes say the following: “keep low”; “follow through”; “little higher”; “you got this” and “go hard”. Other athletes may, lick their fingers before a free throw, they may make the sign of the cross before going onto the field of play, they may clap their hands or they may bounce the ball 4 times prior to a serve. It is important for you to say something (to yourself or aloud) or perform an action that you will remember, that is usually done with successful performances and is unique to you because everyone is as different as their finger print.

“I've failed over and over and over again in my life and that is why I succeed.” ~Michael Jordan~
Email me!