Top 10 Mental Mistakes a Wrestler can Make by Travis Paulson

[The Guru]

http://www.wrestlingmindset.com/1/post/2013/04/top-10-mental-mistakes-a-wrestler-can-make-by-travis-paulson.html

 

 

Top 10 Mental Mistakes a Wrestler can Make by Travis Paulson

 

1) Thinking that wrestling is life and death and not realizing that wrestling is just an opportunity to do something great. 

2) Focusing on defending what your opponent does well instead of making your opponent react to what you do well. 

3) Wrestling not to lose and trying to hold on to a lead 

4) Worrying about the crowd, the ref, the coaches when all you need to be focused on is beating the guy standing in front of you. 

5) Letting a bad call distract you 

6) Heading into any match thinking its going to be easy 

7) Make things to complicated in your mind - Follow the K.I.S.S method - Keep it Simple Stupid 

8) Not taking advantage of people around you that can help - sports med, coaches, etc. 

9) Letting negative thoughts enter your mind. Don't think about what can go wrong think about what can go right. 

10) Thinking about what your opponent is ranked or what he has accomplished. It doesn't matter what is written on a piece of paper when you are out on a wrestling mat. 

 

Travis Paulson

3x NCAA All American

2009 U.S Nationals Champion

2010 U.S. World Team Member

 

[zannetti]

Another good Top 10 Mental Mistake List with Corrections

 

1. Getting involved in the hype. Reading the papers and/or forum. Leave this to the spectators, after the season you can read your articles.

 

2. Associating with negative people and small-time thinkers. These people will only slow you down. Keep your distance from them, especially during the season.

 

3. Making any particular match or tournament “special.” Every match and practice is important, but nothing is ever special. Special adds pressure. Treat everything the same. Consistency!

 

4. Believing ANY opponent you face is unbeatable. David and Goliath, Rulan Gardner over Karelin, Gable and Owings, The Movie “Miracle”, etc. etc.

 

5. Focusing on the past or future instead of the present moment. Only worry about the present and how you can do your best at this moment.

 

6. Under any circumstances using the word CAN’T. Don’t ever say that word!

 

7. Dwelling on a setback or loss. Learn the lesson, then move on, period. Just let it go and do it better next time.

 

8. Focusing exclusively on winning or titles. Compete with yourself.

 

9. Competing not to lose. A coward dies 1,000 deaths before he dies. Always play to win. If you’re already winning: play to dominate.

 

10. Using extreme self-talk, that puts extra pressure on you: MUST, SHOULD, or NEED TO. Use “I want” and “I choose to” instead.

 

http://www.wrestlingmindset.com/1/post/2013/04/top-10-mental-mistakes-wrestlers-make-corrections.html