Olympic athletes were recently surveyed about what they did to mentally
prepare for practices and competitions.  Olympic athletes differed from
other athletes in nine important ways.

1.  Commitment - Olympic athletes made their sport a top priority and focus
in their lives.  How committed are you to your sport and team?  How
committed are you to academic excellence?

2.  Quality Practice - Olympic athletes made sure they got the most out of
every practice, weight workout, and scouting session.  Rarely did they just
go through the motions.  Are you putting in quality workouts?  Are you
studying with quality?

3.  Goal Setting - Olympic athletes had clear and challenging short and
long term goals to guide their training.  What are your athletic and
academic goals for today, this week, this month, this season, your career?

4.  Imagery - Olympic athletes create how they want to perform and respond
to situations in their minds before actually experiencing them in
competition.  Do you visualize how you would like to perform before games?
Do you visualize how you want to make a class presentation before you give
it?

5.  Practice Plan -  Olympic athletes had well organized practice plans
geared to maintaining their strengths and improving their weaknesses.  Do
you practice and study with the purpose to improve?

6.  Pre-Competition Plan -  Olympic athletes create a detailed plan to help
them get focused before a competition.  They develop a consistent routine
to help them get mentally ready to compete.  What do you do before a
competition or test to get yourself focused and confident?

7.  Competition Focus Plan -  Olympic athletes create a mental game plan so
that they can stay focused when they are competing.  Do you know what you
need to focus on and execute in order to perform to your potential/

8.  Distraction Control -  Olympic athletes know what kinds of things can
get in their heads and take their focus away from their sport.  Should
these distractions occur, they detail plans to stay focused and in control.
Do you know what kinds of things can distract you and can you overcome
them?

9.  Competition Evaluation -  Olympic athletes evaluate their performances
and training on a regular basis.  They look for highlights to build
confidence and convert their mistakes into lessons that will help them in
the future.  Do you constuctively evaluate yourself following a week of
practice, a game, or a test?

If you want to perform like an elite athlete, you need to think like an
elite athlete.  For more peak performance suggestions, stop by and see Jeff
Janssen in McKale 109L.