As a coach, one objective is to help athletes play on with confidence and composure immediately following a setback or mistake. Before you can help an athlete regain control you must maintain your own composure, and avoid showing your frustration. This will help your athletes learn through observation how to deal with adversity. Pick up your players and move on, do not dwell on the mistake. Your team needs to know that you still have confidence in them after a mistake.
Teach your players the 3 R’s for composure (Recognize, Regroup, and Refocus) to help them deal with setbacks. Players must recognize that they are dwelling on the mistake, regroup by interrupting the chain of thought, and refocus on the next play. Remember composure is a team effort. A team atmosphere in which players support each other after a setback is a mark of a cohesive team.
Check out the Mental Game Coaching Professional course for more information on coaching the mental game.