It’s Not About the Score

10 ways being “more than an athlete” will help you win!

June 9, 2016 | By Rob Polishook
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What if your primary focus in tennis wasn’t about the winning or losing? What if it wasn’t about being better or worse than your opponent? Certainly, that seems like a radical approach.

But when we view competition through a completely new lens, the lens of “More Than an Athlete,” where the performer brings their whole self to the performance, focusing on their individual process rather than an outcome, I’ve seen hundreds of clients excel.

What does it look like? Here are nine incredible deliverables that result:

1. The athlete stops trying to use the sport to prove their worth, and instead, celebrates the joy of playing. The athlete knows that ultimate victory is in the effort, the improvement and the pursuit. The athlete is aware they did everything they could to compete effectively from setting the conditions, to the last point.

2. The athlete acknowledges the opponent as a partner. The opponent’s foremost responsibility is in doing the best they can and bringing out the athlete’s best, and to expose weaknesses so the athlete can improve them. In this scenario, there is mutual respect.

3. The athlete understands they are on a journey. During this journey they notice, observe, and are curious about all parts of the game. They persevere, adjust to circumstances, and in the process, are constantly developing, improving and learning.

4. The athlete’s focus is on the present, not the past or future. The athlete leaves expectations at the door and plays in the moment, challenged by the circumstances and focuses on process, not the outcome. They are content to play within themselves and trust their game.

5. The athlete doesn’t try to be perfect. They accept their performance as being perfectly imperfect. They know it’s not about playing the perfect game, there is no such thing. It’s about developing a rhythm, breathing and competing. Without the weight of perfection, their focus is better and they become more at ease.

6. The athlete lets go of beating the opponent and focuses on what they can control. Through this focus, the athlete feels more emotionally solid, more aware and better able to adapt, adjust and manage the next moment.

7. The athlete doesn’t try to control thoughts. This can’t be done. They might name these “nervous thoughts” as they come, but they understand they are not truths, just a scared part from within that’s trying to be heard.

8. The athlete chooses target zones and stops trying to force winners. They trust the body, training and instincts in an effort to build a point. They knows that if the target area is hit, they have done their best … maybe it will be a winner, maybe it won’t. If the opponent gets to the ball, they can recover for the next shot without judgment.

9. The athlete plays from a calmer, more present and aware place. The athlete is able to adapt and adjust, withstand adversity and view challenges as an opportunity not resist them.

10. Paradoxically, the athlete wins more!

When you look through the lens of  “More Than an Athlete,” you will bring all of who you are to what you do, and from this place, magic happens! If you want to wear these stylish lens, e-mail me at Rob@InsideTheZone.com with your address. I will mail you a pair of custom Inside the Zone sunglasses!


Rob Polishook
Founder and Director of Inside the Zone Sports Performance Group

Rob Polishook, MA, CPC is the founder of Inside the Zone Sports Performance Group. As a mental training coach, he works with athletes helping them to unleash their mental edge through mindfulness, somatic psychology  and mental training skills. Rob is author of 2 best selling books: Tennis Inside the Zone and Baseball Inside the Zone: Mental Training Workouts for Champions. He can be reached by phone at (973) 723-0314, by e-mail rob@insidethezone.com, by visiting insidethezone.com, or following on Instagram @insidethezone. 

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