The Benefits of Mental Game Training

Debunking Mental Training for Athletes

Summary: Mental training is as important as physical training for athletes. It helps improve focus, manage pressure, and perform consistently. Even short daily sessions can enhance performance, and working with a qualified mental game coach provides tailored guidance. Incorporating mental training allows athletes to reach their full potential and gain a competitive edge.

At the start of a new year, you want to ask yourself:

Do I need to work on my mental game as well as physical game?

Why work on the mental aspects of sports?

Doubts about the value of mental training hold back many athletes from delving into exploring the mental aspects of training and its effect on competitive performances.

The Following Thoughts are Common Among Athletes that Have Ignored Mental Training:

• “I have no time for any additional training.”
• “I don’t know what mental training is.”
• “I don’t know how to go about it.”
• “I’m not sure if it will benefit me.”
• “My teammates will think I’m crazy.”
• “I’m a hard worker in practice and push my limits in practice.”
• “I’m already the best on my team.”

Not adding a sound mental training program will hold you back from your potential.

Think about this for a minute…

Would you be 100% okay knowing that you didn’t achieve all you could have after you moved on from competitive sports?

Let’s be super-conservative for a moment…

What if mental training could improve your performance 10 percent…

Would you really be willing to ignore an aspect of training that could help you perform significantly better?

Let’s return to those previous thoughts that may be holding you back from adding mental training to your regimen and reframe each one:

“I have no time for any additional training.” – Do you have 15-30 minutes in the morning, before practice or before bedtime? Just a short amount of mental training could contribute significant gains to your performance in competition.

“I don’t know what it is.” – Mental training is about thinking better, playing smarter, and controlling your mind to handle the rigors of sport in order to perform at your peak.

“I don’t know how to go about it.” – Just as you found a coach, searched for a team or looked for a private instructor, you can do the same to find a mental game coach to help you learn and develop your mental game.

“I’m not sure if it will benefit me.” – The research is there… Many professional and Olympic athletes credit mental training for their success in their sport.  

“My teammates will think I’m crazy.” – Who cares? Mental training is training. By introducing mental training to your overall training regimen, you will gain a significant edge over your competitors.

“I’m a hard worker in practice and push my limits in practice.” – That’s great but mental training will help you focus better in practice, work more efficiently and get to the next level in your sport.

“I’m already the best on my team.” – What if you could be even better or perform more consistently? Mental training can help you go from good to great.

Houston Astros’ pitcher Josh James has seen vast improvement to his play on the field due to his mental training regimen.

JAMES: “I’d give [mental training] more credit than anything. The year before I kind of would have been down on myself or I probably would’ve come in the next day and not worked as hard [if I pitched poorly].  But, that [mental training] kind of helped keep me even, not ride the highs too high or the lows too low.”

James’ mental training was a big contributor to his best season as a pro with a 2-0 record and a 2.35 ERA in 23 innings.

You have nothing to lose and everything to gain by adding mental training to your daily regimen.

A Tip For Mental Training:

You can read articles, mental training books, or watch videos on YouTube.

That’s a great start to start to understand your strengths and weaknesses of your mental game.

However, nothing compares to working one-on-one with a qualified mental game coach.

A mental game coach can help you understand the principle of mental training, learn mental skills that impact your performance, and tailor a program to your specific needs.

1. Dedicate Time to Mental Training

Spend 15-30 minutes daily on mental training. Short, consistent sessions can improve focus, confidence, and overall performance.

2. Learn the Principles of Mental Training

Understand that mental training involves thinking better, staying calm under pressure, and controlling your mindset. Research shows it helps professional and Olympic athletes perform at their peak.

3. Work With a Mental Game Coach

A qualified coach can assess your strengths and weaknesses, teach mental skills, and create a program tailored to your needs. Personalized coaching accelerates improvement more than self-study alone.

4. Use Mental Training to Enhance Consistency

Mental training helps you manage highs and lows, stay focused in practice, and perform more consistently in competition. Even top athletes benefit from sharpening their mental game.

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Related Sports Psychology Articles:

• Mental Training to Improve Tennis Performance
• Mental Toughness Training in Sports
• Mental Training and Concentration – Peaksports Video

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FAQ: The Benefits of Mental Game Training

Q: Why is mental training important for athletes?
A: Mental training improves focus, helps manage pressure, and enhances consistency in performance. It allows athletes to perform at their peak and reach their full potential.

Q: How much time should I spend on mental training?
A: Even 15-30 minutes daily can produce significant benefits. Consistent, short sessions can improve mindset and performance.

Q: What does mental training involve?
A: Mental training focuses on thinking clearly, controlling emotions, staying calm under pressure, and developing strategies to perform better in competition.

Q: Do I need a coach for mental training?
A: Working with a qualified mental game coach provides personalized guidance, identifies strengths and weaknesses, and helps develop a program tailored to your needs.

Q: Can mental training help athletes who are already top performers?
A: Yes. Mental training helps even elite athletes maintain consistency, manage highs and lows, and improve performance beyond their current level.

Q: How can I start mental training on my own?
A: You can read books, watch instructional videos, or use mental game reports to understand your strengths and weaknesses. Personalized coaching accelerates progress.