Cheerleading Mental Game Lessons
Here’s a thought provoking quote for you: “If you demand perfection of yourself you’ll seldom achieve it. Fear of making a mistake is the biggest cause of making one. Instead of pushing for perfection, relax and pursue excellence.”
The quote is attributed to Bud Winter who was a famous and hugely successful track and field coach and a member of the USA Track and Field (USATF) Hall of Fame.
I like this quote because it’s so rich with content. Let’s look at it more closely, ok?
The first sentence = “If you demand perfection of yourself you’ll seldom achieve it,” does not mean you shouldn’t work hard and strive for excellence; rather, it reflects the reality of success in sports (or any endeavor). As any athlete knows, there are so many variables that affect performance. And, as I’ve said many times, there are those things that you CAN control and then many things you CANNOT control!
If you’re a base, you may have practiced your skills countless times; you may have endured hours of strength training; you may have done everything you can to ensure “perfection,” but you cannot control what the other bases do or what the flyer does or…so many other things! So if perfection was your goal, you will be disappointed. If however, your goal was to perform at your personal optimal level, you will be pleased.
The second sentence = “Fear of making a mistake is the biggest cause of making one,” reflects the reality of how our brains work. The body does what the brain thinks. If you are thinking, “I can’t fall,” or “I cannot let go,” the brain experiences those words as instructions! Plus, if you are afraid of making a mistake during an athletic performance, your body will respond by being tight and tense which adversely affect performance.
It’s much better to train yourself to think along these lines: “I will hold myself strong and steady;” or “I am as solid as a rock:” or “I am as light as a cloud” – depending on what position you play.
The third part of the quote = “Instead of pushing for perfection, relax and pursue excellence,” combines all of what I just said. Your body should be relaxed enough to allow you to be flexible yet strong and your focus should be on the process of your personal performance, not necessarily the ultimate outcome since you have limited control over the outcome.
Getting ready for tryouts? Check out my special program – The Mental Game of Cheerleading: Tryouts! It’s a 2-CD audio package with a 50 + page workbook! Invest in the digital version (immediate download) for less! Look for it in “Cheer Tools” a the top of this site.
Tags: Bud Winter, cheerleader, cheerleaders, Cheerleading, mental game