Premier Mindset Institute found that just 23% of collegiate athletes practice being in the present moment when competing and training.
That means more than three out of four athletes admit their attention drifts from performance relevant data during the very moments when focus matters most.
The ability to stay present is not a luxury in sport – it’s the foundation of execution. Neuroscience shows that when our attention slips into the past (a missed shot) or the future (what happens if I fail), the brain’s threat system (the amygdala) becomes active, disrupting the prefrontal cortex – the control tower for decision-making and precision. The result? Hesitation, tension, and inconsistent performance.
This isn’t just our data. Research on mindfulness in athletics (Gardner & Moore, 2007; Baltzell & Akhtar, 2014) consistently demonstrates that athletes who deliberately train present-moment awareness show improved resilience, emotional regulation, and competitive consistency. Yet, the majority are not practicing it consistently.
So how can athletes and coaches start closing the gap? The key is not to “force focus,” but to build attentional anchors – simple cues that reliably bring the mind back to the task:
- Breath: one slow inhale and exhale between plays.
- Routine: a consistent pre-shot or pre-serve action that centers attention.
- Phrase: a short reminder like “this play” or “next rep.”
These micro-practices train the brain to reset, disrupting the cycle of distraction and re-engaging performance in real time.
Presence doesn’t guarantee perfection – but it does give athletes their best chance to compete freely, with clarity and conviction.
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