| With the individual and team goals set, the actual | | | | emphasis on winning or losing as this is the root cause |
| training begins. Physical training is not to be undermined | | | | of most of the players’ stress. These require |
| but the important cognitive skills to be emphasized | | | | paramount mental effort and so, an adaptation of |
| include relaxation techniques and task concentration. | | | | appropriate mind set is necessary. Staying positive |
| Handing down specific relaxation techniques such as | | | | about one’s abilities and having faith in his |
| breathing exercises and progressive muscle relaxation | | | | teammates is one. Teaching the “here and now” |
| is more effective than just telling them to relax. | | | | rule is another which basically means anything that is |
| Equipping them with applicable means to follow your | | | | not part of the task should be set aside. Learning the |
| instructions instead of just expecting them to comply | | | | connection between stress and level of performance |
| on every command is more effective. | | | | would probably be helpful too. The higher your stress |
| Relaxation technique is crucial to performance | | | | is, the lower your performance goes. |
| because stress and anxiety is inevitable in every | | | | A good coach should also be able to help the players |
| competition so the individual members should learn to | | | | understand that there is nothing to lose by trying |
| handle this. Many distractions also arise in actual | | | | instead of opting to be paralyzed with anxiety. And last |
| games so the members should learn how to block out | | | | but not the least, conditioning the athlete’s minds to |
| unnecessary factors including negative feelings from | | | | view adversity in a positive way, however difficult, will |
| inside and just stay focused on the actual task. They | | | | ease the transition from being a novice player to a |
| have to learn not to try controlling the uncontrollable | | | | more professional and successful athlete. |
| factors during the game and not to put too much | | | | |