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High School Grade  Project 4 weeks

Mind Games: Boost Your Athletic Edge!

Joe M
Updated
12.4.PF.6
12.2.PF.9
CH.PH.02.14
12.2.MH.5
CH.PH.02.12
+ 7 more
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The Challenge

Mental skills such as focus, confidence, stress regulation, and self-talk directly affect performance in sports and other high-pressure settings, yet they are often undertrained compared with physical skills. When you lack strategies to manage pressure, setbacks, and attention, performance becomes less consistent, stress increases, and both individual and team results can decline.

Challenge Question

How can we use mental training to increase athletic performance?

Standards
  • [Massachusetts] 12.4.PF.6 - Design strategies and tactics to elicit a higher level of performance during a variety of sports, athletic, or physical activities. [PE]
  • [Massachusetts] 12.2.PF.9 - Set a goal and create a practice plan to improve performance for a self-selected skill. [PE]
  • [Massachusetts] CH.PH.02.14 - Apply advanced movement concepts and beginning game strategies to guide and improve individual and team performance
  • [Massachusetts] 12.2.MH.5 - Set a goal, create a plan, monitor progress, and celebrate success for plans that maximize efficiency and minimize stress. [HPE; SE]
  • [Massachusetts] CH.PH.02.12 - Participate in activities that promote physical fitness, decrease sedentary lifestyle, and relieve mental and emotional tension
Competencies
  • Learn with Purpose - Develop a plan to pursue a goal (LI.1)
  • Learn with Purpose - Monitor progress and adjust (LI.2)
  • Learn with Purpose - Give and receive feedback (LI.3)
  • Learn with Purpose - Engage in discussion (LI.4)
  • Learn with Purpose - Reflect (LI.5)
  • Sustain Well-Being - Nurture my identity (SW.1)
  • Sustain Well-Being - Build affirming life practices (SW.2)

Learning Partners and Clients

A local high school athletic director or varsity coach can serve as the primary client by reviewing students’ 2-week mental performance plans and giving feedback on whether the routines are realistic, sport-specific, and aligned to team expectations. These partners can connect strategies from Mind Gym and the sport psychology elective to actual athletic performance, practice habits, and competitive mindset. If available, a school counselor, athletic trainer, or strength and conditioning coach can also provide input on stress management, goal setting, and healthy performance routines.