Article 34: When to Use Mental Skills Training: How MST can benefit everyone!

When it comes to mental training techniques, the sky is the limit! Today, various training techniques focus on improving performance while decreasing negative factors interfering with the focus that athletes need to employ in competitive states. Mental skills training (MST) and psychological skills training (PST) focus on cognitive and psychological factors that assist athletes in bettering their overall "mental performance." While focusing on these various skills, it is crucial to understand where to start and which skill is suitable per athlete. For example, you would not concentrate on relaxation skills like deep breathing techniques to reduce performance anxiety for an athlete with excellent relaxation techniques during pre-competition phases. However, you might focus on cognitive reframing techniques if an athlete has irrational or distorted thoughts about oneself during the pre-competition stages. Therefore, it is essential to have an assessment that distinguishes the athlete's need and a plan of action that will result in quickly tackling negative factors. Athletes must also understand that one does not need to have mental-related complications to implement skills training. All individuals can maximize their performance and uncover unidentified strengths! High performers may include all athletes, military service members, businessmen, businesswomen, and others in competitive environments. Others that benefit from MST and PST are stay-at-home parents who home-school children or struggle with the judgment of others, individuals who are homeless, and children and teenagers who lack the motivation to get out and socialize with others. While assessing individuals in high-performing and competitive environments, it is essential to understand self-defeating thoughts.

Examples of Self-Defeating Thoughts:

"I'm never going to be good enough."

"There is no hope, my coach will never let me be a starter on the team."

"I was doing well until our team captain showed up for practice. Now, the coach won't even recognize me."

"It doesn't matter how much I run and train, I will never be fast enough."

Repetitive ruminating thoughts can be a vicious cycle for high performers—especially individuals who put in 100% effort. This process aligns with OCD, which causes individuals to become fixated on worrying and analyzing thought patterns. Repetitive thoughts can cause individuals to blame themselves or others, and anticipating a dire future and outcome is a ruminative cycle that can cause depression, anger, and interference with motivation.

By identifying negative thoughts first, an individual can learn how to self-regulate to develop characteristics that will maximize strengths and reduce weaknesses in performance. Implementing training skills can help high performers minimize stress and anxiety, strengthen the focus on detail and remain focused in competition and high-stress environments, develop confidence and maintain it, and unlock self-determination and appreciation for oneself in competitive environments.

To learn more about this process, book a free consultation with Coach Cheryl McCormick at