Anyone who has been to a cheerleading competition knows that sometimes it’s the little things that count.  Very small differences can make the BIG difference between coming in first and placing second. 

Focus is the granddaddy of the small differences. It is the most important mental skill that is associated with winning performances.  Developing this skill is essential – not only for cheerleading, but for any endeavor. That’s why I recommend training for focus at all practice sessions way before the actual competition. 

Here are some reasons why focus is so critical: 

• Focus allows you to connect totally with what you are experiencing
• Focus frees you to perform without being disturbed by distracting thoughts
• You will learn better and faster when you are focused
• Where your focus goes, everything else follows

 If a cheerleader is proficient in his or her skills (technically and physically) and makes a mistake in execution, it is likely due to a focus problem.  Either the cheerleader is focusing inward (with thoughts such as “I hope I can do this…”) which happens with anxiety or is distracted by external factors. 

Managing distraction is a skill that can be developed and that should be developed.  More on that soon! 

Speaking of competitions, have you seen my training program?  It’s called The Mental Game of Cheerleading: Training for Competitions.  It’s a 2-CD audio program with a 40 page workbook.  You can order the digital version for less.  Order either one and I’ll give you a free one-hour consultation!

Tags: cheerleader, cheerleaders, Cheerleading, Competitions, focus

This entry was posted on Friday, March 12th, 2010 at 3:20 pm by Dr. Pam and is filed under Competitions, Mental Skills Training, mental game. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.