10 Unforced Errors Athletes Must Avoid to Perform at Their Best
Unforced errors are typically what athletes view as in-game mistakes. These mistakes are a result of carelessness rather than the skill or effort of an opponent. While these tactical in-game errors are important to avoid, I’d like to offer an alternative perspective on unforced errors.
Strategic unforced errors are what lead to these tactical unforced errors. By strategic I’m specifically referencing those things you can control and create a plan for well in advance of a competition. Unquestionably, unforced errors at this pre-game stage are a major contributor to in-game unforced errors.
During the pre-game stage of preparation, you can control more and there is less pressure. Therefore, not getting it right at this stage is a huge blunder that amounts to negligence. To prevent this, I recommend athletes start by making sure they are not negligent with this list of 10 unforced errors.
- Sacrificing sleep
- Overeating
- Malnutrition
- Overtraining
- Focusing too much on countering an opponent’s tactics
- Worrying about things one doesn’t control
- Ignoring feedback from coaches
- Not reviewing film of previous performances to find opportunities to improve
- Skipping rehab, rest, or recovery time
- Not investing time on improving mental skills and mindset