Goal Setting And Self Confidence Worksheets (Page 3 of 4) in pdf

U.S. Figure Skating Bridge Program

Self-Confidence

Maximizing the belief in your own abilities

What is self-confidence?

Essentially, self-confidence is the belief in one’s abilities to succeed. Furthermore, a psychological

characteristic elite athletes have in common is a high level of self-confidence as well as the ability to

maintain that high level over time. Self-confidence is expressed in a number of ways. Confident athletes

often behave, think, feel and talk differently than athletes who suffer from low self-confidence. But

underneath these behaviors, thoughts, feelings or words is the underlying belief that they can be

successful.

Characteristics of Confident Athletes

 Confident athletes perform the way they want to perform.

 Confident athletes spend more time thinking about what’s important.

 Confident athletes try harder in practice and competition.

 Confident athletes try even harder when they don’t reach their goals.

 Confident athletes use better mental strategies.

 Confident athletes control competition “momentum.”

Tips for Improving Self-Confidence

Confidence should be based on reality. When athletes find themselves doubting their ability, have

them think about their best performance in practice and competition—the real world proof that

demonstrates that they do have the ability.

Act confidently. Thoughts, feelings and behaviors are all related—if athletes act confidently, the more

likely they are to feel confident.

Think confidently. Confidence means thinking that they can and will achieve their goals. “If I think I

can win, I’m awfully hard to beat” is an example of the type of thinking in which confident athletes

engage. Discard negative thoughts and replace them with the positives.

Identify a positive every day. Encourage the athlete to get in the habit of identifying one good or

positive thing they do each day. Keep a log of successes.

Set measurable, challenging yet achievable goals. By setting goals, achieving them, setting new goals,

achieving them, and so on, the athletes prove their ability to themselves.

Activity: Have your skaters fill out the following page of exercises.

Goal Setting And Self Confidence Worksheets Page 3