3 Proven Ways to Build Confidence as an Athlete
In the competitive realm of sports, confidence is often seen as the most critical mental factor that drives peak performance. Yet, very few athletes actively work to strengthen their confidence or understand how to build it consistently. Instead, many rely on external sources like praise from coaches, rankings, or past performances to feel confident. While these can certainly boost confidence in the short term, relying on them too heavily makes confidence fragile and inconsistent. When the praise fades or a poor performance happens, belief in oneself can quickly crumble.
Thus, it is essential to build confidence that is strong and lasting, regardless of external or uncontrollable factors. Throughout my career as an athlete, I experimented with various techniques to boost my confidence. Some of these techniques had little to no effect, while others made a significant difference. In the next section, I will share the strategies that helped me most, along with the techniques I now use with my clients to strengthen their confidence and elevate their performance.
3 Proven Ways to Build Confidence as an Athlete
“The Confidence Bank”- This can be done in many ways. First, you can write down 3 small wins after every practice you have. Second, you can record repetitions you successfully accomplished in practice. For me, I wrote down how many shots I made per day during the off-season in the notes section of my phone. When I faced self-doubt, I was able to look back on these entries and see all the work I put in during the off-season. The more I reviewed this log, the more I trusted the work I put in. As a result, I gained certainty in my abilities.
Mental Imagery- There is a reason the world’s top athletes visualize daily. Through mental imagery, athletes develop and strengthen neural pathways that mirror those used during actual performance, giving the brain quality reps without any physical movement. I used this technique to target situations where I lacked confidence—like shooting wide-open threes. I would visualize myself making 10 of those shots before practices or games, and another 10 before going to bed. I focused on the rhythm, the follow-through, and the feeling of success. Through this process, I gained certainty and built real confidence in moments that once caused hesitation.
Performance Affirmations- Performance affirmations are clear, uplifting statements you say to yourself to reinforce the strengths and qualities you possess. With consistent repetition, these affirmations help strengthen belief and build certainty. For example, before every practice or game, I wrote down the qualities that made me successful in competition. Some of my go-to affirmations were, “I never get rattled” and “I always find a way to persevere.” This simple habit helped anchor me in confidence and kept my mindset focused on what I do well.
These are just a handful proven strategies that have helped me and countless other elite athletes build and maintain confidence. However, there are certainly other methods in which confidence may be enhanced and strengthened. If you want a personalized approach to enhance your confidence, feel free to reach out!
