The self-control of the sports performance is a very difficult task even for the expert athletes.
But who can be defined as an expert? Who is able to effectively manage a sequence of increasing challenges in specific situations.
Self-control is based on the development of the self-regulation skills in three distinct areas:
- behavioral self-regulation – the athletes act observing them-selves and strategically adjust their behaviors.It happens when an athlete misses a shot and decide what to do to correctl it in the next action,
- environmental self-regulation – the athletes adapt them-selves to environmental conditions or outcomes. In shooting sports the athlete can change the lens color as a function of the light conditions or may take more time before the execution.
- covert self-regulation – the athletea are aware of their cognitive and emotional processes and decide whether to persevere in those conditions or changing them. During the performance or training thoughts and emotions prepare the athlete to speak at his/her best or they can be a source of problems to solve.
The expert athlete must be accurate and consistent in performing these activities of self-regulation by monitoring in the same time the results of the performances, so as to be aware of what are the best conditions to compete effectively and increase self-confidence.
The mental coaching is the means by which to train these skills.
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