“Get your Mind Right”: How to Prepare your Mind for Wrestling

Most wrestlers and parents learn quickly how important the mental aspect of wrestling is very quickly. The hard part is what do about it.

“How do I get my mind right?”

“My kid needs to get his/her mind right”

We get these questions all the time from wrestlers and parents. To excel on the mat, it's essential to prepare your mind for the challenges that lie ahead. In this blog post, we will explore effective strategies to help you develop a strong and focused mindset for wrestling success.

Needless to say, it’s a difficult question to answer specifically without knowing the wrestler well. But one thing is for certain, the quickest way to find out and help is through one-one mindset coaching.

1. One-on-One Mindset Coaching:

“How do I help my wrestler get his mind right for wrestling?” Needless to say, it’s a difficult question to answer specifically without knowing the wrestler well. But one thing is for certain, the quickest way to find out and help is through one-one mindset coaching. A good mindset coach will provide insight and strategies to help a wrestler build confidence, mental toughness, resilience and overcome nerves and anxiety.

Learn more about Wrestling Mindset’s one-on-one coaching, made by wrestlers for wrestlers

2. Focus on the Process over the Outcome:

While outcome goals are important, focusing solely on winning can create unnecessary pressure. Set process-oriented goals that emphasize specific actions and behaviors within your control. Examples include improving technique, increasing strength, improving mindset and conditioning, or committing to consistent training. By focusing on the process, you build a solid foundation for success and reduce anxiety about the outcome.

3. Positive Self-Talk:

The way you speak to yourself has a significant impact on your mindset. Replace negative self-talk with positive and encouraging statements. Use affirmations to reinforce belief in your abilities and remind yourself of your strengths. After a loss or bad practice, speak to yourself the same way you would speak to a friend or teammate after they lost. Positive self-talk boosts confidence, reduces anxiety, and helps you maintain a resilient mindset.

4. Develop Principles and Get Mental Reps:

One of the most powerful lessons that can change the mindset of a wrestler or team is developing and reinforcing principles for training and competing. Wrestling Mindset utilize the 4 Mindset Principles with wrestlers and teams. Each practice or mindset session will begin with the rehearsal of the 4 Mindset Principles. Taking consistent mental reps will help to reinforce these principles on a regular basis.

5. Visualize Success:

Visualization is a powerful technique used by many successful wrestlers. Take the time to imagine yourself performing at your best on the wrestling mat. Visualize executing clean technique and emerging victorious. Also, visualize yourself overcoming adversity in a match to help remain focused while distractions, bad calls by referees, or mistakes happen. By consistently visualizing success and overcoming adversity, you program your mind to believe in your abilities and boost your confidence.

6. Cultivate Mental Toughness:

Wrestling will inevitably test your mental fortitude. Cultivate mental toughness by embracing challenges, setbacks, and failures as opportunities for growth. Find and emulate good mental toughness role models on your team, wrestling club or that you can watch on video. Schedule extra workouts that are geared towards pushing through discomfort on or off the mat. Make a list of times that you have worked hard and overcome challenges. Gradually add intensity to your workouts and believe that you are mentally getting mentally tougher each day.

7. Develop a Pre-Match Routine:

Establishing a pre-match routine will help you mentally prepare before stepping onto the mat. These routines should include deep breathing, drilling, positive self-talk, dynamic stretching and reminders to enjoy the competition. Routines calm and focus your mind, create a sense of familiarity, and help you enter a state of readiness for competition.

8. Manage Performance Anxiety:

Many wrestlers struggle with nerves and anxiety before matches, despite working hard and having mastered high levels of technique and physicality. Work with a mindset coach, sport psychologist or counselor to learn effective strategies to manage performance anxiety. These will likely include developing a pre-match routine, deep breathing, evaluating your thoughts and actions, and many other strategies

9. Redefine Setbacks and Losing:

Setbacks and losses can be essential motivators and learning opportunities in wrestling. “A setback is a setup for a comeback.” Rather than dwelling on failures, view them as opportunities for growth and learning. Analyze your matches objectively, identify areas for improvement, and develop strategies to overcome weaknesses. Embrace setbacks as valuable lessons that will make you a stronger wrestler. Great wrestlers learn and build confidence from both wins and losses.

Ultimately, the journey to becoming a successful wrestler goes beyond physical prowess. It requires mental mastery, discipline, and a relentless pursuit of excellence. By preparing your mind for wrestling, you equip yourself with the mental resilience and focus needed to excel in this challenging and rewarding sport. Embrace the mental aspect of wrestling, and watch as your performance soars to new heights.

Get your Mind Right with the #1 authority in mental training for wrestlers and combat sport athletes.