“Get your head in the game,” a common phrase shouted at many athletes that seem like they are playing poorly mid-match or game, is not as easy as it sounds. Physical and mental strength go hand in hand in order for an athlete to succeed.
The mind is far more overpowering than what an athlete has to offer physically. According to Sherwood High School sophomore and varsity lacrosse player Brooke Walsh, her personal achievements athletically have come almost entirely from her positive mindset.
“I have always been a hard worker and known that I needed to be able to keep up with other girls, as I am getting older, and the competition is getting more challenging,” Walsh said. “I always am able to push myself with a good mentality first, in order to get myself into the physical shape necessary to accomplish the goals that I have for lacrosse.”
When pushing oneself through mental struggles and hiccups, many athletes can rely on their teammates for support. Having an uplifting group of people is very important to the game of Gonzaga College High School sophomore and varsity basketball player Jared Turner.
“If my teammates have my back and give me encouragement throughout the game, I’m less likely to sulk after making a bad play, therefore increasing my performance,” Turner said.
For athletes that participate in individual sports, it can be hard to have such a great mentality. For Walt Whitman High School sophomore swimmer Leah Goldstein, the pressure she puts on herself hits her at the same time before every solo race.
“When I step onto the block, I am almost never encouraging myself. I am always thinking about what could go wrong instead of trying to use my mind to help me do well. The nerves really screw up the success I could have if I didn’t let thoughts like that get to my head,” Goldstein said.
As a coach, it is very important to foster cohesiveness among the players on a team. With this, it is important to acknowledge the different mindset of all of the players.
“When you have a positive mentality, the willingness and effort will be higher than when there is a negative mentality. A positive mentality helps overall play and chemistry among teammates, which is what a coach strives for,” Churchill High School varsity lacrosse coach Tara Nicholas said.
Article by Jillian Ward of Walter Johnson High School
Graphic by Claire Yang of Winston Churchill High School