04/06/2026
I recently had an athlete tell me a coach yelled at him during a game “JUST STOP THINKING!”
Not helpful. 🥴
In fact, my athlete said his thoughts started to get louder after his coach said that.
Do you feel like you think too much during important moments? Do you get frustrated with yourself when that happens?
The harder you try to force thoughts away, the more attention you give them.
We can’t make ourselves just stop thinking. Our individual thoughts are actually not a problem. The problem becomes if one thought leads to another and another and then all of a sudden you are swimming in your head.
When athletes get caught up in overthinking, they often become more focused on things they can't control—outcomes, mistakes, expectations, opponents, or what other people might think, instead of the task at hand.
The goal instead, is to keep your attention anchored on what matters most and redirect your focus when a thought pops in.
If you’re a coach and you want to support your athletes: this often means resisting the urge to provide constant instruction during competition. Too much information can pull athletes into analysis when they need to trust their training. One simple, concrete cue is often more effective than multiple corrections.
For parents wanting to help their athlete: it means avoiding sideline coaching and last-minute advice. Your calm presence, encouragement, and belief in your athlete is far more helpful than additional instruction.
Accessing peak performance comes from staying present and locked in on what you’re doing and trusting the work that you’ve already put in.
If you'd like support helping your athlete develop stronger focus, confidence, and consistency under pressure, we offer parent and coach consultations designed to help create an environment where athletes can thrive.
Reach out to [email protected] to learn more.
You can also explore our books, audio programs, and other resources in the shop to support your parenting or coaching journey. Visit www.competitivedge.com/shop.
