Training the Mental Game
Building Mental Resilience in Sport Year 12 Health & Physical Education 15-minute team lesson
Performance is Like a Three-Legged Stool
Knowledge - Understanding the game and strategy Physical - Fitness, skills, and technique Mental - Mindset, focus, and resilience If one leg is weak, the whole stool tips over Most teams train the first two - winners train all three
What Happens After a Mistake?
What goes through your head after making a mistake? What did that look like? Am I getting subbed? Don't mess up again! When coaches say 'shake it off' without showing how, athletes hesitate and play safe
Thumb Exercise: Your Brain Leads Your Body
Step 1: Thumb out in front, move behind your body - notice the range Step 2: Thumb down by your side, close your eyes Step 3: Imagine lifting it even further back than before Step 4: Imagine bringing it forward and down Step 5: Open eyes and try again - did it move farther?
The SNAP-BACK Reset System
Step 1: Mindset Shift - Mistakes = information, not identity Step 2: Know Your Triggers (Traffic Light System) 🟢 Green: focused, confident 🟡 Yellow: frustration, tension, doubt 🔴 Red: spiraling, mentally offline Step 3: Your Reset Routine - Breath + Reset Word + Physical Cue
Reset Word Challenge
Choose ONE team reset word to bring us back and refocus after mistakes Choose your own individual reset word for moments of pressure We'll start using these TODAY in training Final takeaway: We don't avoid mistakes - we train how fast we move through them