• Successful behavior increases confidence and leads to further successful behavior
• Represents the most powerful way to build confidence

• The more likely one acts confidently the more likely they are to feel confident
• Effects mood of oneself as well as teammates
• It is important to display a confident image during competition
  Body language can give away lack of confidence prior to event as well as during event

• Positive attitude is essential in reaching goals
• Thoughts and self-talk can be instructional and motivational rather than critical and judgmental
• Can be useful in correcting one’s technique
• Keeps energy and motivation high
• Results in more enjoyable and successful athletic experience

• Can assist in seeing yourself doing thins that were not accomplished before
• Useful in healing process and imagining getting back on the field after injury

• Most athletes in most sports train year-round to improve strength, stamina flexibility and performance

• “As long as you are prepared you can expect to do well” the corollary to this is also true
• Planning gives one confidence
• Pre-competition routine is essential in optimal performance

Although confidence is a critical determinant of performance, it will to overcome incompetence. Confidence can take an athlete only so far. The form of an inverted-U can represent the relation between confidence and performance with the highest point skewed to the right. Performance improves as the level of confidence increases, up to an optimal point, whereupon further increases in confidence produce corresponding decrements in performance.

Optimal self-confidence means being so convinced that you can achieve your goals that you will strive hard to do so. It does not necessarily mean you will always perform well, but it is essential to reaching your potential. You can expect to make some errors ad bad decision, and you might lose concentration occasionally. Each person had an optimal level of self-confidence, and performance problems can arise with either too much or too little confidence.

• Undermines performance
• Creates anxiety
• Breaks concentration
• Causes indecisiveness
• Increases focus on shortcomings

• Individuals utilizing this strategy are falsely confident
• Their confidence is greater than their abilities warrant
• Performance declines because they believe that they don’t have to prepare themselves or exert the effort necessary to perform well
• An individual cannot be overconfident if the confidence is based on actual skill and ability

• Exercise appears to have a positive relationship with self-concept
• Changes in self-concept might be associated with the perception of improved fitness, rather than the actual changes
• Changes in self-confidence due to physical fitness changes seems to have greater power with individuals who have low self-esteem

• Self-confidence: A belief that one can successfully perform a desired behavior
• Trait self-confidence: The degree of certainty individuals usually possess about their ability to be successful in sport.
• State self-confidence: The belief of certainty individuals possess at a particular moment about their ability to be successful in sport. Although someone might have a general level of self-confidence, this can change from situation to situation or even within a competition.

• Remain calm and relaxed under pressure
• Allows individual to be aggressive and assertive when the outcome of the competition lays in the balance

• Increases challenges in goal setting

• the mind is free to focus on task
• Decreases worry and anxiety
• Reducing the attention to failure will influence ability to remain un-distracted

• Persistence is proportionately related to confidence especially noticed when skill levels are equal amongst competitors.

• “Playing to win” vs. “playing not to loose”
• not afraid to take chances allowing for taking control of the competition

• Being able to rebound from adversity
• “Never give up” attitude

• A salient factor in achieving flow state regardless of person’s actual ability
• Belief that you can perform well will aid in focus and limit distractions