Despite all of the bad form we saw while watching the NLI competition last weekend, I saw something in a couple of advanced female athletes during the hang snatch portion of the competition at a level that I haven’t seen since watching Sean perform the clean ladder at the last NLI competition, FOCUS. It hit me again at that moment, the level of focus an athlete must have to become elite. It’s a trait we’re all aware of and a trait we’d all like to have, but mastering focus throughout an entire lift, from set up to finish, or an entire WOD, takes practice. With everything that happens in a day, it’s easy to get distracted and let your mind wander in the middle of a lift or workout. Maintaining good form throughout an entire lift or entire WOD requires focus and is important for hitting those PRs, improving efficiency and preventing injury. I decided to go searching for tips on how to stay focused and I found an article about cue statements on the Applied Sport Psychology website. In the article, a cue statement is defined as a short statement said to yourself to refocus your concentration. Below is a summary of how to create your cue statement:

1. Personal – You need to find a cue statement that works for you! This could be a single word such as “tough” or “dominate” or a short series of words. One way to develop a personal cue statement is to ask the question, “If I were the best athlete I could be, how would I look and act?” Often times, as athletes are answering this question certain words and images emerge. Take time to think about how you would answer the above question because a statement that is believable and personal to you will be the most effective.
2. Positive – To be effective in refocusing after mistakes, a cue statement should be positive. Negative self-talk has been linked to performance detriments and anxiety. Focus on what makes you the best you can be; do not spend time criticizing yourself.
3. Short – The ideal cue statement allows you to quickly refocus but does not interfere with the necessary thoughts during performance. As mentioned earlier, some athletes prefer a single word such as “focus” while others use a short personal statement such as “strong, focused, in the game.”