Lacrosse, a sport with its roots in Native American culture, involves a small, rubber ball and a wooden stick with netting on the end. Today, lacrosse is played in colleges, high schools and recreational leagues across the United States. The sport is physically demanding and requires a great deal of mental sharpness. The stress of competition or losing a game can cause lacrosse players to lose their confidence. Fortunately, there are ways you can help boost your confidence on the lacrosse field.
Step 1
Visit with a sports psychologist or mental trainer. Work with a trained professional to help overcome your fears and concerns about playing lacrosse.
Step 2
Practice. Attend all teams practices and practice on your own one or more days per week. Practice can help you overcome any fears of not knowing your team's plays and allow you to perfect your technique -- particularly stickhandling, which is crucial to lacrosse.
Step 3
Work on your concentration. Distractions -- such as parents in the stands, coaches, the other team and your own teammates -- can throw you off of your game. Focus on what is going on during the game and on the field rather that what is going on in the stands or on the sidelines. Imagine the only individuals present are those on the field.
Step 4
Develop a routine. Get plenty of sleep the night before a game, eat a good breakfast, relax during the day, give it your all during a game and reward yourself afterward.
Step 5
Set goals for yourself. Boost your confidence by achieving small goals. For instance, maybe you want to score a goal, increase your playing time or break into the starting lineup.
Tips and Warnings
- Avoid blaming others for your shortcomings. Even the best lacrosse players make mistakes. Learn from your mistakes rather than dwelling on them.
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