Athletic talent and developed skill alone will not translate to success on the field. The best athletes are the players who want the ball and want to make the critical play. Timidity will not get you to the winner's circle of your chosen sport. You cannot push your game to exalted heights if you do not take the initiative yourself.
Step 1
Practice as much as possible. Be the first player on the practice field, and the last one off of it. Implement as much muscle memory as possible for all of the aspects of your sport. The more that your game involves muscle memory, the less it involves rational, cognitive function. If you build your game to the point of reacting without thinking, you have no opportunity to be timid. Immediate action is assertiveness.
Step 2
Relax your muscles, and relax your brain before every play. Do not allow yourself to get too excited or nervous. Doreen Greenberg, adjunct professor of psychology at Richard Stockton College of New Jersey, recommends taking several calming breaths to center yourself before engaging in competition.
Step 3
Grab the ball and make a play. Regardless of whether you are successful, the more you take the initiative for play-making, the more comfortable you will be in all aspects of the game. You will learn much more from your play-making failures than you will from your play-making successes. If you find yourself thinking that you don't want the ball, fight the impulse.
Step 4
Talk yourself into winning. Use your inner monologue to be your best cheerleader. Never talk yourself into not making a play or not wanting the ball. According to Andrew Caruso, author of "Sports Psychology Basics," an athlete should visualize success prior to taking the field. Create an image in your mind of making a perfect play. Make your vision as detailed and specific as possible. Avoid a vague vision of something good happening. Envision yourself crouching down as a baseball is hit to you, fielding it cleanly, then executing a perfect throw to get the base-runner out. Picture every detail as vividly as possible.
Step 5
Insist to yourself and your teammates that you belong on the field. Fight for every yard, run out every ground ball, and take your shots every single time. Putting in maximum effort despite slim odds of success builds confidence in your teammates regarding your level of commitment and competitiveness.
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