Coaching Mind's Podcast: Perform at your best! S1E5 - Improve Focus
Nov 22, 2019
They explore when to narrow versus widen attention and how that changes performance. Science-backed ideas on attention, gaze, and muscle memory are highlighted. Practical routines to prime focus, drills to broaden or narrow attention, and techniques to let go of mistakes are discussed. Strategies for creating a written action plan and nighttime offloading are also covered.
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Control What You Can
- Athletes must focus only on controllable factors and avoid distracting concerns like weather or opponents.
- Confidence comes from preparation, so mistakes don't erase what you've practiced and planned.
Train Flexible Attention
- The brain cannot stay hyper-focused constantly, but athletes can narrow attention at key moments like pitch or shot release.
- Practice switching between broad and narrow focus so timing aligns with game demands.
Aim Your Gaze, Protect Muscle Memory
- Look where you want to go and not where you want to avoid, because gaze guides movement and muscle memory.
- Reduce distracting thoughts to protect practiced motor patterns in pressure moments.