As experienced coaches and wrestlers you have to be asking yourselves what improvements will make the biggest improvement for the 2003-2004 season that is fast approaching. All to often all that we consider is technique and conditioning. The purpose of this article is to motivate you to "think" about a third area: competitive confidence.
Let me frame the thinking like this: Picture a scale from one to ten. Now, evaluate yourself (Coaches--one of your wrestlers) in all three categories: technique, conditioning, and competitive confidence. Here are some examples.
Technique: a zero would be a rookie who knows very little or nothing at all; as opposed to a 10 who is a wrestler who is highly proficient in all positions: on his feet, down, scrambling, riding, etc.
Conditioning: a zero would be a wrestler who can't make it through a tuff practice without hurling, let alone a grueling three period match; as opposed to a 10 who can go all out for as many overtimes as necessary.
Competitive confidence: a zero would be a wrestler who is experienced and conditioned, but has never won a match against a formidable opponent because he can't manage his doubt and fear; as opposed to a 10 who is a wrestler who loves the sparks; looks doubt square in the face, and regularly defeats opponents who are better wrestlers.
Got the idea?
Now we get to my point. If we're truthful with ourselves this example is striking. Hypothetically, if you think you're an 8.5 in technique and an 8.0 in conditioning, what about competitive confidence, maybe a 4.0 or a 5.0? Perhaps less? As you look to the coming season, which do you think is your weakest category? Again, most of the time we ignore competitive confidence. Do you think improving your technique to a 9.0, and conditioning to a 9.0, will make a dramatic difference this season? I don't think so. That is solid improvement, which is good thing, but its not going to make a dramatic difference at a high level. Are you starting to see the answer?
Yes, conquering doubt and fear; learning the mental skills of a competitor is what will make the biggest difference for the coming season. I've watched thousands of athletes, from kids to pros, in a variety of sports who are very skilled at technique and highly conditioned, but don't know how to compete. So the real question is: Do you want to win or just practice? If you want to win, it's about your mind, not your body.
The problem is the "how to" information on building competitive confidence is very limited. Next month I'll start a 7 part series that will briefly (limited space) touch on the key step-by-step processes that build a winning tournament mindset, which dramatically elevates competitive confidence.
Now don't get me wrong, I'm not saying that working your butts off on technique and conditioning aren't critical factors for winning wrestling tournaments, they definitely are. But, if you ignore actively working on your competitive confidence your chances of winning at a high level--becoming a champion--lessons.
Until then, here's to believing.
Steve Knight is the author of WinningSTATE-Wrestling, a groundbreaking new book that teaches wrestlers how to conquer doubt and fear and effectively manage the craziness of a tournament environment. An engaging speaker, Steve is available for seminars. For more information visit winningstate.com or contact Steve via email: steve@winningstate.com.
