A survey was carried out to measure the level of mental toughness I possess. The mental toughness quiz measured issues such as reboundability. Reboundability is the ability of an individual to get back to where he originally was after a major failure. I scored a perfect score on this. Next is the pressure in which I also scored a perfect six. A good athleteshould be able to perform under pressure. However, I scored a four on the confidence test. Confidence seems to be an issue that I need to address. I scored a perfect six again on the concentration ability and the motivation tests. Other than the confidence level, I seem to be perfect in all the other issues. It is clear that if I want to be a good player, then it is necessary for me to improve in the confidence.

As mentioned earlier, reboundability is the capability of a sports person to get back to the level that they were after experiencing a failure. Failure on a sports person can be very daunting. If a person does not have this ability, then failure would probably lead to other failures and eventually dropping out of the game. It is important that a person understands that there will always be failure at one point or the other and therefore they ought not to be put down by one failure. It is necessary that they understand that failure means that they improve their skills and not give up. Failure is a threat when it comes to sportspeople. They should be inspired by failure and use it as a stepping stone to success (Hammermeister, 2010).

Pressure occurs in every profession. However, in sportspersons, this pressure may seem to be too much and it is the responsibility of the player to not let the pressure get to them. They need to understand that pressure is a good thing and that it makes them work harder to win any games. This pressure may come from their coaches, their families, their fans and even the entire world. Especially now that the world cup is almost starting, teams are bound to be under pressure from their countries to perform. A good sportsperson should know how to use pressure to attain their goals. This can be done through either counseling or training oneself to not think about it at all (Hammermeister, 2010).

Every athlete should have a high level of confidence. Confidence is key for every player. They need to be confident in their ability to perform well. Without confidence, a player cannot play any game effectively. People are able to sense it whenever someone does not have enough confidence. Therefore, if a player does not believe in himself, then, then no one else would put their trust in them. They end up becoming very bad players. Confidence is a self-esteem issue. For the coach to counter this effectively, then he has to change the mindset of the player. The player should be encouraged all the time and made to feel like they really matter in the team. Someone could place high confidence in them forcing the player to believe in himself too (Hammermeister, 2010).

Distraction is a hindrance in any game. Players need to have the ability to concentrate in order for them to perform well. It is near impossible for anyone to perform well in anything if they cannot concentrate. Therefore, a player must concentrate in a game. There are several rules for every game that a player must understand. These rules are important and they have to be followed strictly. If a player has some distractions, then they are likely not to follow the rules and end up getting disqualified for the game. The best way to deal with this issue is to remove the distraction altogether. The distraction may be in form of a person or a thing or some emotional problems. The underlying issue needs to be dealt with in order for the player to perform well (Hammermeister, 2010).

A player must be motivated enough to be able to play a game effectively. The best motivation is that which comes from inside. This way, the player knows what is expected of him and is dedicated to doing that without any fear of failure. Self-motivation inspires a player to perform well. It gives a player the determination to perform well despite the setbacks that he may be facing. There could also be external motivators such as the coach, family, a particular event and even fellow team players. Motivation could also come in the form of money although this is usually not right. However, people are different and different people are motivated by different things. Each coach must ensure that he knows what motivates the team members and use them to inspire each and every one of them. If the players are motivated by money, then the coach should always ensure that the money is enough and available to them (Hammermeister, 2010).

I incorporate mental training in my practices. I believe that a player needs to be mentally andphysically ready for any game. Without the mental capability to play a game, then a player is useless. Mental training and physical training go hand in hand. It is necessary that the player be all rounded. This is very effective. I have been able to deal with the pressures of the game. Mental training helps one to deal with any eventualities of the game. It also helps one to be in the best shape to play and win a game. I would advise coaches who want to incorporate mental training in the practice to do so. They could even hire a specialist for the players. Without it, the players may end up getting frustrated and lost.

References

Hammermeister, J. J. (2010). Conerstones of Coaching. Washington DC: Cooper Publishing Group.