Mentally practicing and preparing oneself for the competition is equally important like physically practicing drills. They both complement each other. They both hold equal vitality and balance each other to get the best outcomes.
Physically preparing varies from sport to sport but mental preparation is somewhat similar in each and every sport. Every player requires these key elements like focus, confidence, self belief etc. to perform well. All these factors are essential to perform up to the capabilities and all of it can be improved by practicing on a regular basis.
The difference between a good player and an excellent player is their mental strength, the way they respond to situations on the field, the way they take spontaneous decisions, the way they display their character by positive or negative body language. So to raise the bars and to be a standalone player, pulling oneself mentally up in every situation is required.
No matter how much talent a person has, without the key elements like confidence, focus etc., all that talent goes in vain since a player cannot showcase it all or up to their highest potential. A supremely talented person who lacks mental strength shall prove to be an average player, while on the other hand, an average talented player with tremendous mind control will prove to be an excellent player. That’s the amount of impact mental strength has in building a player. Interestingly, besides so much importance, the area lacks attention.
Basic drills such as meditation, positive self-talk, and visualisation can be added to the routines of players. All the elite players we see, to whom we admire so much, practice these techniques. All these simple and basic drills that helps in enhancing performance.