CONCENTRATION
Concentration is an essential mental skill for optimal
performance. Not only for sports such as shooting, archery,
golf, and tennis, but for all sports, including team sports.
Best of all, like other skills, it can be learned.Concentration
is being in the present, not analyzing or focusing on
what happened one second ago or will happen one second
from now. It sounds easy, as though everyone should be
able to do this without much effort or training. But formidable
obstacles stand in the way of attentiveness or concentration.
AVOID CONCENTRATION LOSS
Two primary results of a loss of concentration are errors
and a decline in self-confidence. Performance decline
due to distractedness and flawed judgment occurs. Also,
as concentration breaks, the athlete's feelings of being
in control deteriorate, which immediately causes a loss
in confidence. The decline in confidence further erodes
the performance. So, a vicious negative cycle begins,
once the break in concentration occurs.
DEVELOP THE ESSENTIAL MENTAL SKILL OF CONCENTRATION
Concentration or selective focus of attention can vary
in intensity. The more complete the focus of attention,
the greater the level of concentration.Skills involved
in concentration fall into two major categories: First,
focus of attention on targeted, relevant information,
and second, dissociation from non-targeted, irrelevant,
and, potentially distracting, information. Concentration
involves both focus of attention and dissociation from
potential distractions, simultaneously.
EXTERNAL
DISTRACTIONS HINDER CONCENTRATION
Many athletes are excellent at directing their attention
when distractions are low. They may falter when the distractions
increase. Airplanes flying overhead, movement in the audience,
crowd noise, announcements over the PA, and flashbulbs
are examples of external distractions that can break concentration,
meaning that the attention is grabbed by the distraction.You
can learn to overcome these types of distractions and
stay focused. The book Focus Under Pressure shows you
how to set up simulated practices to develop the ability
to ignore distractions. Click here for more information
about Focus Under Pressure.
LEARN TO REACH AND MAINTAIN MENTAL FOCUS
Concentration means that the athlete is able
to reach a state of unwavering focus of attention on a
selected target. With good concentration skill, this mental
focus is not susceptible to external distractions, such
as noisy conditions in the environment or to internal
distractions, such as thoughts or feelings that are irrelevant
to the task at hand.
Good concentration ability means that the athlete learns
to overcome internal "noise" in the form of
thoughts and feelings of worry, fear, concern, and anxiety.
These factors can disrupt the focus of attention as easily
as noisy external distractions.
There are numerous methods that help you to develop and
strengthen concentration ability.
For more information on developing the essential skill
of concentration, see the training manual, Concentration:
Focus Your Mind, Power Your Fame. This manual provides
specific instructions for a number of exercises that develop
concentration.
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Comments on
"Concentration:
Focus Your Mind, Power Your Game"
"As a competitive golfer, I found the book
to be very informative, easy to read, and filled
with practical insights to heighten one's concentration
and maximize performance."
- W. James Weese, Ph.D., University of Windsor,
Windsor Ontario Canada
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