FOCUS: Squirrel!

The longer I coach, the more fascinated I am by how much today's athlete has on the go.  They are bombarded by thousands of distractions every day and unfortunately they often come to training mentally tired or distracted.  It can be very difficult to optimize your performance, training or practice when you are in that state and that is why it is important to train yourself to mentally focus.

In the movie "UP", squirrels are the ultimate distraction

 

Athletes often lose confidence and choke in competition because they focus on the wrong things or don't focus on anything at all.  Focusing on outcomes, who the opposition is, how tired you feel, how badly you did on an exam or other distractions can pull your attention away from the process that will lead to your success.  Focusing on nothing and just going through the motions is also detrimental to performance and training.  Purposeful training is always more effective than just doing a drill for the sake of doing the drill...
  

Focus is usually harder to maintain when doing a drill or activity that is boring, or repetitious.  For example, throwing warm-up!  There are few players out there that have wonderful throwing technique (or quick exchanges) and yet every time I observe throwing warm-up, I am shocked at how athletes simply go through the motions.  Although we call it warm-up that is not the only purpose of it!  It is also an opportunity for you to make adjustments to your technique, accuracy, speed and for you to work on how you receive the ball.   So remember, every time you pick up a ball to "warm-up" pick something to focus on!  If you have good technique, it can be as simple as throwing so accurately that your partner doesn't have to move their glove even an inch.  Perhaps you should focus on your overhand throw,  your side arm, dart or ground up throwing.  There is always something you can do to mix it up.  You can pay attention to the basics of throwing - your release, your wrist action, your elbow, your shoulder, your glove hand, your feet, your follow through.  Pretty much any area you focus on will increase your awareness and aid in your development. 

Stay tuned for some focus strategies, but in the mean time find a focal purpose in every drill you do!

~H