Confidence Through Observing Others
Some athletes can feel a surge of confidence when watching others because it brings clarity to what they can do to achieve success that they are seeing in the observable.
However, another athlete might watch the same person and instead fill with self-doubt, making achievement an overwhelming after-thought. So, how can you make sure you’re getting the most out of your vicarious experiences? Here are a few guidelines.
Choose who you observe with intention.
You don’t necessarily want to watch just any athlete and expect a confidence boost out of it. There needs to be more intention - more planning - to reach this outcome. One way to do so is to observe someone you relate to in some way. Maybe they have a style or technique similar to yours that you can learn to hone by watching them. Or perhaps you share a quality, like height, that makes it more valuable to watch as they navigate that factor of performance. Deepening the connection between you and the observed will improve the gains you take with this experience.
Choose what you observe with intention.
Just like you should consider who you will watch, go in with a plan of what to watch. If you observe with no targets to look for, little will stick with you. Instead, consider what is important to look for that you can apply to your own game. This could be technique, like mentioned earlier. It could also be more subtle, like the way they warm-up or how they seem to emotionally regulate themselves.
Choose what is worth taking with you into subsequent performances.
After going through the process of choosing who to watch and for what reasons, all that is left is to consider how you will apply this to your future. Observing as a bystander, hoping it will subtly impact your automaticity and confidence is a fun thought, but unlikely to produce real change. Instead, you ought to walk away from one of these observational sessions knowing what you want to do differently or keep doing. Maybe it was a reminder to keep your head up and follow through. Or you want to add a new component to your reset routine that you observed and liked the idea of also doing. Having the clarity of walking into your next practice or game after observing and knowing exactly how that observational experience can impact you will make a big difference. In fact, there is little reason to think you’ll be a different, more confident athlete if you observe with a lack of structure.
Observation sessions can be done in many ways. You can watch clipped highlights of a pro player or one of their games so you can see them live. Conversely, watching a teammate you look up to during practices can prove equally beneficial. Many athletes experience moments in practice when they are standing around or catching their breath. Use these opportunities to up the quality of your practice by engaging in structured observations.
To sum it up, consider anyone, from professionals to teammates, that you think you can learn from. Next, consider any areas of growth you’re working on, or what you find interesting and engaging to train right now and notice these in this athlete. After looking for these variables in your observations, determine specifically what you will do differently to honor what you observed. The result: you add another piece to the dense puzzle of confidence.
