COLLEGE PREP

When recruiting coaches compare athletes and scout for talent, they’re looking at more than your technical skills and physical abilities. They’re searching for high performers with that undeniable spark.

Some coaches call it passion. Others consider it natural talent. At EleVive Sports Psychology, we call it a ‘peak performance mindset.’

Peak performance is the culmination of incredible physical skills, laser focus, and mental toughness. It’s an enduring grit, coupled with a winning attitude. And in action, it’s an athlete who doesn’t just deliver their very best time and time again—but one who can also overcome defeat, setbacks, and injury like the true champion they are.

Want to strengthen your peak performance mindset— and catch the attention of recruiting coaches in your sport? Focus on these three mental skills that can help you maximize your technical ones.

Let’s start with stress management. Recruiting coaches are constantly on the lookout for athletes who excel under pressure. We’ve all seen athletes who dominate their sport—until the tide shifts. On paper, these athletes have the raw talent necessary to reach peak performance. But without the ability to stay out of the Red Zone, they struggle to perform at their best with consistency.

The Red Zone is what I call the psychological state we get into when our creative, problem-solving brain shuts down, and our primitive, fight-or-flight instincts take over. When we’re in the Red Zone, we can become overly focused on our mistakes, overwhelmed by stress or emotion, and constantly anxious. Not exactly a recipe for success, right?

But there’s a way to get out of the Red Zone. Reset your response to stress. Next time you face a stressful situation, try broadening your perspective. Ask yourself, “What’s going well right now?” Then take a moment to survey the entire situation, not just the worst-case scenarios. Stepping back a bit before you move forward helps you rewire your brain to recognize the big picture.

The second mental skill, resilience, is similar to stress management, but more closely tied to how you recover from difficult situations. When you make a mistake, do you get trapped “in your head,” or do you bounce forward? When losses mount, do you get bitter or better? Resilience isn’t built by ignoring an injury or denying challenges. It means reframing every issue as an opportunity to inspire.

To cultivate greater resilience, think about the inspirational story you’re creating. Every great inspirational story has two parts: The adversity faced, and the incredible overcoming. Consider, how is this adversity getting in the way of your goals? What overcoming story do you want to tell? As you think about becoming your own inspirational tale, you’ll begin to realize you already have everything you need to become remarkably resilient.

The third mental skill recruiting coaches look for is an athlete’s ability to continue learning. And like the other mental skills, your ability to learn really comes down to your mindset. Athletes with a growth mindset crave learning. They embrace new training methods and are easily teachable—both of which recruiting coaches consider major benefits.

As you’re preparing for recruiting season, keep this insight in mind: Your skills on the court, field, track, or mat matter just as much as your mental skills. To achieve peak performance—and that undeniable spark—don’t underestimate the power of a winning mindset.

Visit elevive.com to learn more about our transformational sports psychology principles and connect with our team today.