| In my first article on the subject of "Coping With | | | | his or her performance that need to be improved. The |
| Success" I explained why both coach and athlete must | | | | athlete should try to avoid writing commentary such as |
| recognize and respond to the post competitive | | | | "My serve is terrible" because this is a negative |
| mindset of the athlete in order to ensure future | | | | statement and there is absolutely no constructive |
| success. An anticlimactic depression can overwhelm | | | | content contained within. The athlete should follow a |
| the successful competitor. In order to be able to cope | | | | format such as the following: |
| with this phenomenon, athletes must first understand | | | | "My serve needs to improve. I need to focus on my |
| just what has depressed them. The typical trend is | | | | balance and my form in order to improve it." |
| that athletes are disappointed with their personal | | | | Athletes who analyze their own performance and are |
| performance even if they were victorious. | | | | able to critique themselves openly will certainly see |
| This extreme reaction can be minimized with the use | | | | their shortcomings. The successful athletes will not only |
| of their competitor's journal. Taking a few moments to | | | | see their own weaknesses, but will also be able to |
| record their exact emotions during the post | | | | dissect them in order to find the minutiae that need to |
| competition phase of their activity can become a | | | | be improved upon during training. If developed, the |
| therapeutic experience for each athlete. While | | | | ability to evaluate your own performance can increase |
| composing their entry, athletes must focus on the | | | | the pace at which you improve in your technique and |
| things that they performed well during competition. By | | | | your performance. |
| focusing on the positive aspects of their performance | | | | Most athletes mourn after a loss and celebrate after a |
| they will begin to alter their mood from one of | | | | win. While everyone should take time to enjoy a |
| depression to one of satisfaction. | | | | victory, the truly successful athletes will always be |
| Once the competitor has reached an emotional | | | | seeking ways to improve themselves as well as their |
| equilibrium, he or she can then focus on the areas of | | | | team. |
