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Making the Right Choices In Racing

by Patrick J. Cohn, Ph.D.    

Much of my work with Drivers involves teaching them that they have the ability to make choices and helping them make the right choices mentally. In fact, everything I do in sport psychology involves teaching drivers to make good choices in their thinking. Athletes have the ability to choose their attitude. You have the ability to choose to be confident. You have the ability to choose to stay focused on the task. And mentally tough drivers make these choices!

A typical question I’m often asked is: “Half way through the race I’ve made a couple errors! I’m starting to get frustrated. How should I think when this happens?"

My response is that he has two choices in this situation. I said the first choice and the wrong choice is to think that you’re racing poorly, the gods are not on your side, or it’s just not your day. This makes you feel frustrated and you lose confidence by focusing on the negative. This option allows you to think that you will continue to make mistakes! This thinking will not help you turn it around.

My suggestion and the better choice is to know that you are doing the right things fundamentally and your driving will make a turn for the better. You must be patient and believe that, eventually, you will get into the zone! You must make this simple choice if you want to turn it around.

Great drivers choose to think that they will perform well the next turn, lap, or race no matter what happened in the past. If they don’t make this choice, they are just giving up. If you don’t start the race as well as expected, don’t talk yourself into driving poorly the rest of the race. Make the right choices mentally, so you can have the best chance to perform well.

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