"Focus!  Concentrate!  Get your head in the game!"  While many coaches across the nation say these words on a daily basis, sometimes athletes donít exactly understand what they should focus on because they arenít always taught how to develop a championship focus.  Think about it - while coaches and athletes spend countless hours developing physical skills and strengths, how many hours a week do you invest developing your mental skills and strengths?
 One of the most critical aspects for developing a winning mental game for success in sport, school, and life is the ability to focus properly.  I believe that there are three simple yet powerful things you can do to develop a championship focus.

1.  Focus on the present.
 Arizona golfer Marisa Baena struggled with her focus early in the season because she would let past mistakes cloud her present focus.  We worked to develop a pre-shot routine to help her mentally release the past and focus totally on the present shot.  ìAfter the first tournament, I just worked on my swing and my mental concentration.  My mental game was much better and I made less mistakes,î she said.  By learning how to focus on the present shot, Marisa played a key role in helping her team win the 1996 National Championship as she won the individual title, and was named the Rolex College Player of the Year.
 Championship athletes play the game one play/pitch/possession at a time.  When it comes time to compete, they focus 100% on the present moment.  Championship athletes realize that the most important play of the game is always the present one.  How many times have you dragged a past mistake or frustration into your present focus?  When you dwell on past problems or future concerns you end up distracting yourself by splitting your focus - some of it is on the past/future and only a portion of it is on the present.  Championship athletes learn to focus on the present moment by taking a deep breath and releasing past frustrations and distractions when they exhale.  Then they use their self talk to focus on the present by saying, ìTake care of this point,î or ìOne point at a time,î or ìFocus right here, right now.î

2.  Focus on the positive.
 Picture this scenario:  You walk into a fast food restaurant and decide to order a hamburger.  The waitress asks for your order and you say, ìI donít want a pizza, I donít want a taco, I donít want a salad, I donít want . . .î  What would happen?  Well, the waitress would probably get pretty frustrated and confused and finally say in an exasperated voice, ìWhat do you want?î
 Similarly, sometimes athletes go into situations focused more on the negative things they donít want rather than the positive things they want to happen.  How many times have you told yourself ìDonít turn the ball over,î ìDonít miss!î, or ìDonít make a mistake.î  When you focus on the negative things you want to avoid your mind and body become confused and frustrated like the waitress did in the example.  Instead, focus on the positive things you want to do (ìI want a hamburgerî) rather than the negative things you want to avoid.  Tell yourself, ìTake care of the ball and make smart passes,î ìSee the ball and drive it,î  and ìI can make this play.î  By telling yourself about the positive things you want your mind can focus appropriately in helping you make them happen.

3.  Focus on the process.
 Have you ever seen a team get excited and congratulate their teammate for making an out?  Arizona Softball Coach Mike Candrea and his players congratulate teammates for outs when they hit the ball hard and the defense needs to make a great play to get them out.  They do this because they understand that if you can continually focus on the process, the positive outcomes that you want will take care of themselves.  If the batter consistently makes contact with the ball, sooner or later they will get the desired outcome of a hit.  By focusing on the process and doing the little things well, Arizona Softball has achieved the amazing outcome of winning four National Championships over the past six years.
 Championship athletes understand that the outcome of winning depends on their ability to focus on the process of competing.  They continually do the little things that put them in a position to achieve the outcomes that they want.  What is the process of being successful in your sport?  What will it take to achieve the outcomes you want?  In most cases, focusing on the process involves taking care of the small yet important things within your control - making a commitment to quality training, approaching things with a great attitude, developing your physical and mental strengths, and working together with your teammates and coaches.  By taking care of the process, you will put yourself in the best possible position to achieve the outcomes that you want.
 Championship athletes have learned how to consistently win the mental game.  By focusing on the present-positive-process, you can win the mental game which will go a long way in helping you become a champion.
 

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