Sports psychology is a relatively new term for the ever-present mental aspects of sports. It seemingly puts the mind in the spotlight in sports, at least more than in the past.
I believe what is meant by sports psychology today differs from the essence of the mind's role in sports. Sports psychologists often focus on general psychological issues, similar to traditional psychologists, addressing topics like injury recovery, mental health, well-being, team dynamics, and team building, which are important topics.
However, there are much deeper aspects of sports psychology, such as harnessing the power of the mind to win, create champions, and enhance peak performance. The best sports psychologists are competitors, winners, and psychologists in one. They understand that the key to sports psychology lies in the perfect balance between ambition, aggression, tension, self-belief, calmness, relaxation, while harnessing the power of the mind and the laws of nature. In order for the mind to have the role in sports that it deserves, those working with the minds of athletes, like sports psychologists, need to deeply believe in its power.
I think this is not yet the case. In the past, sports psychology was solely the job of coaches, and the best among them were first psychologists and then coaches. Nowadays, as a result of sports clubs not placing enough emphasis on the importance of the mind, and sports psychologists usually working on mental health problems or helping athletes cope with injuries rather than creating champions, clubs tend to opt for psychological sessions once or twice in the season.
A phenomenon in academics that should be studied in psychology is the belief among some academics that they are above even considering such concepts. Part of this is understandable, given the large number of life coaches who falsely present themselves and perform jobs they are not qualified for. However, what I can't agree with is the ego and the lack of security in their own knowledge, which prevents them from being open to considering anything proven to work.
I believe the law of attraction is one of the tools that can influence the mind. Since the mind is still largely a black box, with few tools to truly penetrate its workings, I can say that I use the law of attraction for what it truly is: part of a comprehensive approach as a means, not an end, to help athletes and teams achieve better results.
For an athlete to explode and show more than they even believed possible, their team must see the potential within them that goes beyond their current performance.
For coaches: "The team you have right now, whoever they are, is the best team you could have."
For teammates: "The teammates you have at this moment, whoever they are, are the best teammates you could have."
Even if an athlete reveals their flaws or struggles with performance, and your mind insists that this defines them and limits their potential—don’t buy into that belief. People can always surprise you and completely change. Believe in people; by doing so, you create the space for them to change.
One example is MMA fighter Charles Oliveira, who saw himself as a loser until he went to a new team and gym. They recognized the potential in him that he didn't see in himself, and they became his second family, ultimately helping him win the UFC title.
In both sports and business, teams often promote the idea of being a family from day one.
However, this concept can feel forced and lead to manipulation by those who know how to exploit it for personal gain. It can also stifle open discussions about issues within the team.
A true family atmosphere isn't automatic; it must be earned. Teams are built in time and from the ground up, and it’s crucial for members to genuinely try to understand one another on a deeper level, not only for the sake of connection but also for coaches and teammates to know what button to push to make you a better player. Team members need to be seen for their potential, not just who they currently appear to be. Facing challenges together further strengthens the bond. These are the basis of forming a healthy environment, but it doesn't mean an environment where everybody has to hide their true opinion in order not to hurt anyone's feelings. Instead, the healthy basis of a team allows for genuine expression, because then people know that everything said is for the benefit of the individual or the team, and not coming from bad intentions.
I think Kobe Bryant put it in the best way: "Leadership is lonely. I am not gonna be afraid of confrontation to get us where we need to go. It's a big misconception, what everybody thinks that success comes from everybody coming together, putting their hands around each other, singing Kumbaya, patting each other on the back when they mess up. That's just not reality. If you're gonna be a leader, you're not gonna please everybody and you got to hold people accountable, even if you have that moment of being uncomfortable.
"This video is available to watch on YouTube:
Watch on YouTubeThe style of playing/driving/competing for a professional athlete comes naturally (as part of who you are—identity) and stems from drive and ambition. So, when anybody attacks you for being yourself, if you let it get into your mind and start doubting yourself, you lose what makes you a competitor.
Some situations might be really pressuring, like in the video above, when your opponents or even officials present your style of driving as dangerous for their safety. That is incredibly challenging for the mind to resist and not give in. In this instance, it was Valentino Rossi, a very experienced driver, who discarded/laughed at the opinion of his opponent.
The same was true for Ayrton Senna, who was attacked by all his opponents and officials at the same time, yet he managed to resist and never doubted himself. He stated that the moment he no longer goes for a gap that he sees in the race, he will no longer be a racing driver.
Another example is moto racer Marco Simoncelli, who lost his life after a crash 12 years ago. He was obviously upset and doubting himself in many interviews prior to that. His style of racing was aggressive, and other drivers constantly pressured him to change it. Moto sport is an extreme example where your life is on the line in every race, and it illustrates how much belief you need to have in yourself to survive and drive another day, let alone become a champion.
More programs and laws are being implemented to increase well-being and prevent mental health illnesses, but there is a gap between what is on paper and what is in reality. We are a society where 90% of people are undervalued workers, having to go through the same day constantly, without any work-life balance, being overused, and left stranded when no longer of use. The problem doesn't lie with employers but with employees, because they accept that. People don't have enough imagination to see a different world, and they say that's how the world works, take the job or leave it. If one worker would not accept being treated this way, there are many who would accept it without questioning, and they are the ones who allow that cycle to continue.
Now, in sports, the situation is not much different, even on the highest level; we have many examples where players are left out when injured. In youth sports, we are beginning to understand that putting too much pressure and expectations on kids is pushing them away from sports. An important point is that sports psychologists nowadays, while having the best intentions, are unconsciously killing the drive and ambition in kids by focusing solely on improving their well-being. The key lies in protecting innate instincts, even further igniting fire out of the spark, but at the same time teaching kids to relax, allow their bodies to work for them, working on their self-belief without forcing them, and teaching them to honestly express themselves and bring unique change to sports.
The problem with sports analytics is that they view sports on a physical or very superficial level. The real game happens beneath the surface. The video above shows how all sports analysts predicted that Ali would lose to Liston because they based their prediction on Liston's physical power.
At the same time, they have a true love for the sport and are very knowledgeable about the sport itself. True champions see another level of the game from the perspective of the mind. They don't necessarily love sports as much as analysts do. What they love is competition, winning, overcoming challenges, personal growth, the accomplishment of goals, and mission. Athletes usually love certain details like the smell of the ball or the sound of the ball bouncing off the floor, etc.
Visualization is simply one of the tools we use to access the mind. When we are anxious, expecting a negative outcome in the future, scared, or worried, it is always accompanied by or stems from visualizing negative scenarios that block us from doing the things we are afraid of.
However, if we visualize a positive outcome, if we imagine a different reality, our minds start to believe and allow us to perform the task.
Research has proven that rehearsing physical exercise only in the mind has almost the same physical effect as doing it for real. To take it a step further into the topic of energy, the law of attraction, believing, and seeing a different reality not only convinces our brain but creates a different reality.
My motto is: "The best way to predict the future is to create it." It is not an easy job, like nothing when it comes to the mind. We may break the fear temporarily, but the mind's defense mechanism will create another illusion to play games with us. The mind knows our weaknesses best and always targets where we are weak. I believe that to be a top athlete and a top psychologist, you need to fully believe in the power of the mind in the most challenging moments. Usually, we want to believe, we want it to work, but we don't fully.
Struggling under pressure means that you care, that you have ambition, and maybe a dream. You strive to perform well, to reach perfection—you just need to adjust your approach and use your ambition instead of it using you.
One solution is to focus intensely on your goal, depending on your sport. For example, in basketball, the goal would be to score a basket. No matter how, your only concern is scoring. This way, your mind will bypass many obstacles along the way simply because it’s focused on the ultimate goal.
Another strategy is to turn fear into excitement. As legendary boxing coach Cus D'Amato stated, fear is a normal feeling given by nature to protect us. Adrenaline allows us to be sharp, to notice everything, and to escape quickly in the face of danger. That adrenaline will make you jump higher, be stronger, faster, and sharper.
Use it, welcome it. Say to yourself, "Yes, fear, give me more—that's what I need." The third strategy is the most effective, and it’s not a quick fix or trick, but rather thorough work with a sports psychologist, building a firm base of self-belief, belief in nature, belief in your body, love for yourself, love for life, and understanding the laws of nature and life.
I will provide the answer only from the psychological aspect of dealing with an injury.
Understandably, injuries are naturally one of the hardest parts of sports for athletes to deal with, but they are an integral part of sports. As mentioned in the question, athletes' bodies are instruments on which they rely daily. They are tools with which they work and provide for their families. Notice the point of view in that sentence; it is pressure-inducing and negative, but natural to many people. Some would say it is a realistic point of view. Again, psychologically, what we believe that is realistic is actually shaped by our cognitive schemes (mental structures/patterns of thought a person uses to organize and interpret the world) that we adopted throughout life, so reality is whatever we deeply believe in.
Some researchers such as Brewer (1994) and Wiese-Bjornstal et al. (1998) have suggested, and research findings have confirmed, that reactions to injury are highly individual and situation-dependent. We can still see a pattern of stages that athletes go through after an injury. I believe that at the end of each grieving process—period of fear, anger, intrusive/dark thoughts, and rumination—must come a positive outlook, a thought that everything may work out well in order for any of us to get up and face another day. It is a prerequisite to continue living.
So, I may conclude that the difference between being pessimistic and optimistic is that the optimist is positive all along the way, while the pessimist is only positive at the end when they have to be.
If you need to believe in a positive outcome at the end in order to continue your life, why not skip the period of negative thoughts? Negative thoughts never brought anything productive to anyone; they are wasted time. Top athletes in any sport are always utterly optimistic; they never even open the door to negative possibilities, and this is an important source of self-belief (which will be addressed in another topic).
As an athlete, one thing you need to protect at all costs is your self-belief. You should never allow doubt to enter your mind. Studies such as Leddy, Lambert, & Ogles (1994) have found a decrease in athletes' self-confidence following an injury. Quinn and Fallon (1999) found a decline in sport self-confidence during rehabilitation. These are normal patterns of thought for an average person and their way of perceiving the world. The big source of dark thoughts, doubt, and uncertainty after an injury comes from having built an entire identity around being an athlete. You become very powerful when you learn that you are much more than just an athlete. You have something special in you to give to the world, and being an athlete is only one way to express that. There are thousands of athletes who value themselves solely in that light, and this may be seen in the interviews they give. They would give the same boring interviews as many other athletes, showcasing that they don't understand sports truly and, with that, life too. The greatest among athletes are those whose interviews are wise lessons on life. They are the ones who understand the underlying meaning of sports. They are appreciated by audiences who are not even interested in sports. Especially today, when it is hard to get heard, you need to do your job in an extraordinary fashion and be different. Not by any means to force being different nor being different in order to be different, but to deeply get to know and value yourself and then to freely express it.
Another source of pressure may come from the environment, but the best psychologists among coaches know that forcing anything is against nature and will never bring rich harvests for an athlete. Researchers have proven that mentally strong people are those who believe they are mentally strong. When we believe we are mentally strong, our bodies release a chemical that protects us. An example is Zlatan Ibrahimovic, a football superstar whose knee state after an injury amazed doctors during a surgical procedure. It amazed them so much that they want to study him now after his football career. The strength and state of his knee were thought impossible after 20 years of playing football at the highest level.
Entire sports psychology, but also life, is based on changing perceptions. As Connor McGregor, an MMA superstar, once stated after his injury, there is always something you can do when you are injured. If your arm hurts, does your leg hurt? If your body hurts, you can improve your mind. Sooner rather than later, you will be able to do absolutely everything. There is research on the so-called "benefits of injury." Some athletes don't take the road of rumination but instead perceive their injury as a positive thing—a time for personal growth (development of personal interests outside of the sport, self-reflection, self-discovery), a test of character, and improved mental strength (Ford & Gordon, 1999; Rose & Jevne, 1993; San Jose, 2003; Tracey, 2003; Udry, Gould, Bridges, & Beck, 1997).
All in all, it is a privilege to be an athlete, and careers of athletes are short; sooner or later, they will be faced with questions and challenges: What next? Who am I outside of this sport? What is my value in the world?
Bibliography
Brewer, W. B. (2007). Psychology of sport injury rehabilitation. In G. Tenenbaum & R. C. Eklund (Eds.), Handbook of sport psychology (3rd ed., pp. 404–424). John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
This question is an indicator of how much sports today are seen as physical and how much as mental. If coaches, clubs, and psychologists truly believed in the power of the mind, no one would be refused based on appearance.
I think the best answer to this question lies in the examples of a few of the greatest athletes ever. Michael Jordan was rejected from his high school team because of his height. Boxing coaches laughed at legendary coach Cus D'Amato for saying that Mike Tyson, who is only 178 cm tall, would become the youngest heavyweight champion of the world. The best example is the NFL draft report of Tom Brady, who went on to become a three-time NFL Most Valuable Player. His report stated: "Poorly built. Very skinny and narrow. Pushed down more easily than you like. Lacks mobility and ability to avoid the rush. Lacks a really strong arm."
We live in a superficial society where value is based on appearance. What these athletes have is heart, resilience, drive, competitiveness, and love for the game.
I am the coach of seemingly underdogs. I believe that true value lies in recognizing potential, seeing what can be, and not what is. I believe there is a time for every style, every movement, and every idea.
When an athlete understands this, and when an athlete realizes that each of us hides a genius, and when he or she starts playing to their strengths, and understands that rules and limits exist only to be broken.
Now, coming back to the mind: the mind creates all these illusions; it creates the worlds that we experience. When athletes go onto the field, for example in boxing, the mind will tell them that the opponent is much taller and stronger. When entering a new situation, everyone seems better, faster, stronger, and more composed. However, once you become accustomed to an environment, all the demons tend to disappear, and everything looks less dangerous, smaller, and the opponents appear imperfect and human. There are thousands of amazing players in each sport, but when the pressure is on and it is really important, for a moment it seems that no one can score.
The biggest assets of an athlete are being cool under pressure, being coachable, having heart, and possessing a winning mentality.
As an athlete, teach yourself to always look for the answer in your mindset, rather than in technique (physicality). Even when you're sure the problem is physical, it stems from the mind.
When you do pushups, even though you see results on your body, it’s also your mind that’s getting stronger.
When children learn to ride a bike, they usually fail all day, then go to sleep, and the next day they suddenly know how to ride, as their mind has processed and accepted it.
Even technique is only partly physical; the physical part is just the last link in the chain of execution. The proof is that you learned the feeling and performed a certain play thousands of times; physically, you know it, but something changed, and suddenly you can’t feel it anymore. Mostly, it’s temporary, but it almost always happens when you’re beaten by your own mind. I believe no one can ever beat our mind unless we allow it. It’s never an opponent who beats us, but our perception of being beaten that gets us. It might be that we’re thinking too much, trying to control our technique or our body to perform in a certain way, which causes us to lose the feeling. It’s important to learn to trust your body, to practice so much that you don’t need to think about how to execute something. We can conclude that it’s not just about practicing a lot; repetition is one way to convince your mind, but the real key and goal is to truly believe, no matter how you arrive at that belief.
Coaches are psychologists before they are coaches, whether they are aware of it or not. They are dealing with a group of different individuals, and their job is to reach their soul, get to know them well, and create different strategies for different players.
On the other hand, no one can disturb you or make you feel a certain way if you don't allow it. It’s another psychological factor, but a coach is a person of authority, so we feel guilty for not picking up their energy or not feeling the way they dictate. We grant them access to our mind, and we lose our ground.
Top athletes don't even think about these things. They just want to play the game and win; they don't need to force themselves to be focused—it comes naturally from their drive. Being focused isn't the opposite of being relaxed. I don't believe relaxation comes from trying to relax, because when you're focused on trying to relax, you're actually making yourself more tense. True relaxation comes naturally when you believe in yourself and enjoy the game. Focus comes from drive, a winning mindset, and love for the game, and you should strive for both relaxation and focus at the same time. If by being relaxed you mean getting out of the zone, trash talking, or responding to your surroundings, it depends on the player. The important thing to understand is that mental strength isn't about tension; it's about the flexibility of the mind. It means becoming resilient and hard to throw off your mental balance, ensuring that nothing happening outside, however tempting, can get into your mind.
From a psychological perspective, you always want to appear as if you're not struggling—calm, strong, and invincible on the surface, no matter what's happening within.
In sports like boxing, for example, you'd act as though no punch can shake you, because you know your opponent's mind is playing tricks on him, just as your mind does on you. You aim to exploit this, helping his mind trick him.
A famous example is George Foreman against Muhammad Ali, where after six rounds of heavy beating, Ali asked, "Is that all you got, George?" This simple statement shattered Foreman's confidence, leading him to believe his punches couldn't harm Ali, and from that moment, Ali took control of the fight.
On the other hand, many athletes believe they must "die" on the field, exerting more energy than needed, which can make them stiff and limit their creativity. To answer the question directly: you need to ask yourself if you truly want it, because those with a clear dream and goal never let themselves slip into that mindset.
What it means to be a champion?
Being a champion isn't just about pushing physical limits and winning the game. It's about having a limitless mind on all subjects, embracing a worldview free of personal prejudices, narrow beliefs, and societal norms. The mind of a champion sees beyond right or wrong as others define them. Champions have enormous ambition and think on the grandest scale because they deeply appreciate the value of life and aim to make a profound impact on the world. Their ambition is not oblivious or self-serving. They don't have morals that stem from fears, limits, or societal norms, but rather from purpose, integrity, and authenticity. Champions live according to the demands of life as it is, and still retain a core of pure intention. They deeply understand life and are committed to the truth, unlike those who are good out of naivety or lack of awareness. The definition of greatness/champion is much broader than just an excellent athlete.
To build a champion's mindset, it's important to remember that everyone has a unique talent, a spark inside, and a purpose. It’s the role of a coach or sports psychologist to help athletes discover what's within them and understand their purpose, allowing them to fully express it. Athletes should be introduced to the champion's mentality and what it takes to become one. They should practice using their imagination and visualization, seeing themselves as already being a champion and gradually start thinking and acting like one. Through consistent practice, they will begin to embody the mindset of a true champion.
This video is available to watch on YouTube:
Watch on YouTubeThe above video offers the best insight into the mind of a champion. Ayrton Senna's connection with his inner self and his acquired belief in God eventually evolved into the strongest belief an athlete can develop: that winning is his birthright and that he was put on Earth by God with a mission.
This sense of mission, more important than life itself, allowed him to be utterly determined, dedicated, and focused. In his mind, he simplified the entire process of being an athlete, directing his energy toward one thought: What do I need to do to win? This winning mentality naturally made him appear intense—intense without forcing it.
Outside the world of racing, he was another person, which highlights the importance of creating an alter ego in sports. To others, he appeared as a mystic, as they could not comprehend that such a mindset required solitude to protect and further develop his own reality. By cultivating an environment for the mind that aligns with nature's laws and a higher purpose, he became wiser. He realized that he was ultimately engaged in a process of self-growth, competing only against himself and learning about life in the process. His interviews provide life lessons, a common trait among the greatest athletes. To be considered one of the greatest in any sport is never solely a question of sporting achievements, although that is one ingredient; it also encompasses who you are as a human being.