Self-Confidence Exercise 2
Competition Simulation
As we have discussed, consistent good performances directly and positively impact self-confidence. It stands to reason that the more consistently good performances you can have, the more they will help feed your self-confidence. This is especially true for athletes who know they have the ability but have trouble building their confidence to believe their ability will transfer to different situations (like big competitions, for example). One way to build your confidence across situations is through the use of competition simulation. Some athletes do this by creating situations in practice that mimic their competitions. This may include having spectators watch you perform, and/or official or judges present, wearing your competition outfit, and practicing a routine exactly as you would in competition, from start to finish. Performing successfully in competition conditions will translate strongly into positive, confidence-building thoughts. No matter where you are, you may also simulate competition in your head, through the use of imagery techniques. Many elite athletes do mental practice on a regular basis, seeing themselves performing successfully in various competition situations. Imagery can direct your attention to important details on which to focus, and it can provide you , over and over, with the evidence of your ability. Obviously, it’s important to imagine successful performances that accurately reflect you ability for imagery training to convert into increased self-confidence.
Write your ideas for how to make your practice feel more like a competition: