It’s really important for athletes to be able to concentrate and stay focused on sports. When athletes concentrate, they become totally involved in what they’re doing and feel as if time has stopped. They don’t care about what’s happening around them, and they aren’t easily distracted. They’re totally tuned in to what they’re doing. This feeling is called being “on” or “in the zone”.

 

Focus is one of the most important mental skills in sports. Kids who have a hard time focusing, are easily distracted by doubts, negative thoughts, mistakes or other factors like parents and coaches yelling during a game. Most athletes lose focus or space out during competition. It’s important to understand that although you can improve your concentration, it’s impossible to be on all the time. Here are three tips kids can use to improve their focus.

1. Identify the Cues That Are Relevant to Your Sport
2. Recognize When and Why You Lose Focus
3. Create a Strategy to Help You Refocus

Every athlete has the power to concentrate on his or her sport. A big part of getting into the zone is learning how to ignore distractions and focus on the right things. You can apply focus skills to improve your confidence and composure. Some of the best athletes in the world say that focus is the single most important mental skill an athlete can possess. Learning any new skill takes time. It doesn’t matter if you’re learning a physical skill or a mental one; you need to practice in order to improve.