The game is on the line. Your heart races. Your thoughts spin. The pressure is real — but it doesn’t have to control you. Pressure Is a Pattern Athletes often think pressure is external: the crowd, the coach, the score. But pressure is a pattern — of breath, thought, and body response. Once you learn to disrupt that pattern, you take back control. Pre-Competition Self-Talk: What to Say (and What Not To) The One-Word Reset The fastest way to shift your state is a cue word. One word. One focus. One shift. What Makes a Cue Word Work? Short: one or two syllables Active: it prompts movement or mindset Personal: it means something to the athlete Examples: “Snap” “Breathe” “Now” “Lock in” “Loose” When to Use It Before a big moment After a mistake When tension rises In transition between plays Train the Cue Pick your word Anchor it to a physical action (clap, exhale, stomp) Practice it in training — not just games Use it on command, not only in chaos Case Example: Locked In at the Line A basketball player we worked with would freeze at the free throw line. Her new cue: “Set.” Before every shot, she would say it, breathe, and bounce once. Her shot percentage rose. More importantly, her fear dropped. Coaching Tips Help athletes choose their own cue Practice it during stress drills Debrief after games: when did you use it, and how did it help? Final Thought: Simplicity Wins Under Pressure When the brain is flooded, complex tools fail. A single cue, trained deeply, can bring you back to clarity when it matters most. Emotional Control on Game Day: How to Stay Cool When It Counts 🔑 Learn How to Coach Pressure Reset Systems In the Sports Mental Coaching Certification, we teach practical cue-based systems that help athletes respond powerfully under stress. Click here to learn more