Managing the narrative

In sport, well-being can tend to start with your players’ relationship with their performance and subsequent outcomes.“I must perform” and “I must win” may be ineffective, energy-sapping narratives that do more harm than good.

Thus, helping your players manage their competitive narrative may be a critical ‘must-do’ for you as a coach.

A nuanced and sophisticated competitive narrative can help your players to experience their own personal optimal mental health, whilst also being ready to
compete.

That nuanced, sophisticated relationship recognises perception of control:

1. “I can’t control outcomes so I don’t try. I can absolutely influence my performance but I accept there will be performance factors that are out of my control”
   
2. “I focus on the performance tasks that are within my control. I strive to execute these with the best mindset I possibly can”

That nuanced, sophisticated relationship recognises mindset:

1. “I take the time to consider my high performance mindset for the various performance moments that confront me during a day. I appreciate these may differ depending on the demands of the performance moment”
   
2. “I monitor my high performance mindset daily. I may allow myself to be a little tougher on myself with mindset, but I strive to retain healthy and flexible demands on myself as a person and a team mate or co-worker”
   

That nuanced, sophisticated relationship recognises the importance of collaboration:

1. “I co-create with others to strive towards our best possible performances and subsequent best possible outcomes”
2. “mentally, I can be there for them and they can be there for me. Together, we can feel safer and healthier within our performance environment”
   

That nuanced, sophisticated relationship with performance and outcome starts with the story your players’ have in their minds about performance and outcomes. So help them build a flexible narrative.

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