What Is Mental Toughness?
Define mental toughness?
Mental toughness is the ability to maintain your concentration under any circumstances.
Can players develop mental toughness? If so, how?
Just like any physical skill mental toughness can be practiced and developed.
Players should develop a plan for success. They must have a very clear understanding of how their game works and this includes knowing their strengths, weaknesses and how they play best. The odds are that if a player has ever performed well in the past they carried out a process to help them achieve success. In general, consistently repeating their individual process for success will give players their best chance of success.
Great players understand their game very well, right down to tiny details and this allows them to know exactly what they are doing at every step of their performance and also to self-correct rapidly if required.
Once players have established their plan for success, they need to carry it out as often as possible (training and matches) and this takes discipline and commitment as there are countless distractions to take a player’s mind off doing their job successfully.
Can mental toughness influence success, both individual and team?
Yes of course! Mentally tough players will concentrate better under pressure than other players and will therefore be able to perform when it counts. Mentally tough players win matches by understanding that the most important thing they can ever do in cricket is deal with the next ball to the best of their ability.
What aspect of cricket requires a higher degree of mental toughness? Batting or bowling?
It is all the same, as both disciplines require concentration!
It takes genuine toughness to commit to focusing on the success process in the face of challenging and uncertain conditions but remember; giving up or not thinking doesn’t work. Being mentally tough is difficult but the effort is worth the reward, if players have the desire to succeed
Masterclass: Confidence
What influence does confidence have on performance? why do athletes lose confidence? and how do athletes regain confidence? Good luck. Mark
What, in your own words, do you define as ‘confidence’?
Confidence is the knowledge that you can succeed in a situation if you apply your skills to the important aspects of the task at hand.
Do you feel, that confidence is the main contributing factor in success?
No! However, it is essential for an athlete to be confident in order to have any chance of success in a given situation. Success is never guaranteed and can never be taken for granted, despite the fact that you need to believe you can achieve it! You must believe that you can succeed, if you don’t, you won’t!
A range of both internal (controllable – skill, technique, knowledge, concentration, thinking, planning, fitness and experience) and external factors (uncontrollable – quality of the opposition, conditions, umpiring and luck) will also influence the outcome of a competitive situation. All any athlete can do is control the controllable elements of their performance in order to give themselves their best chance of success.
I would say confidence is an essential component of a successful performance, it is similar to concentration. It’s not the main contributing factor in success but you can win without it.
An athlete needs to ensure they have the necessary mix of physical and mental skills to perform to win in their chosen field. The better equipped a player is in terms of their mental and physical skills the more confident they will become in their ability to succeed.
What are some aspects that you feel, that cause players to lose confidence, and what signs do you perceive to be a lack of confidence?
Excellent athletes base their confidence in the knowledge that they have the right mix of physical and mental skills to cope in any situation they will face. If you have this knowledge, why wouldn’t you be confident? The quest of any athlete who aspires to be the best they can be is to attain mastery in their chosen field. Even for those athletes who have mastered their games, all they will ever have is their best chance of success if they apply their skills to the task at hand.
Lesser athletes probably base their confidence on external factors they cannot control as such their confidence tends to come and go and they do not perform consistently as a result.
Players must practice their confidence and other non-physical skills such as concentration just as much if not more so than their physical skills in order to develop them.
The main sign that tells you a player is lacking confidence is a consistent run of poor performances! Looking specifically at an individual (and you need to have a very good knowledge of the how the athlete plays and thinks to do this) I make a comparison between the details of how the athlete functions optimally as opposed to sub-optimally. If the athlete isn’t doing what they normally do when they play well, they will inevitably be low on confidence.
How do you motivate your players to regain the confidence to perform at optimal levels?
It is useful to remind athletes of previously successful performances they have had and mental rehearsal, video and visualisation can all play a very important role in this area. Making sure the players have a consistent routine in terms of skills execution, preparation and concentration will develop consistency within a player and leave less room for big fluctuations in performance, however this is more of s preventative than remedial strategy.
It is important to remember that you cannot give someone confidence, you cannot be confident for another person. You can show confidence in someone, you can ‘back’ them and give them responsibility but you can’t do it for them. To succeed confidence has to come from within, as athletes need to ultimately believe in themselves in order to succeed. As a coach you can and need to help, encourage, believe, motivate but these strategies will only have an impact if an athlete believes in himself or herself.
Can you think of an example of where confidence has contributed in an athlete’s success?
Behind every successful performance is a confident athlete! It’s not the only factor at play in determining success but you can’t win without it.
April 2012 Boot Camp Program
This program is specifically for those cricketers with good skills and fitness and who are self-disciplined, highly motivated and looking to take their game to the next level.
Our intensive one day coaching program is designed to enhance existing skills and provide specialist training in the disciplines of wicket keeping, batting, pace and spin bowling. The program also includes:
- Analysis of bowling action by video
- Wicket keepers will work with specialist coach
- Extensive bowling machine batting technique work
- Individual high performance technical and tactical strategies
Our talented and experienced coaches work under the guidance of Elite Cricket founder and former Australian XI and Australia ‘A’ representative Mark Atkinson (Level 3) with specialist coaches.
Places are limited to 20 players per program.
Note: Please read our frequently asked questions before booking.
SCHEDULE
Five Dock Indoor Sports centre – 16th April – players 11-15
The program runs 9am-3pm.
Cheers
Mark
April 2012 School Holiday Program – Pathway To Next Season
The program is designed for players aged 7 -12 and will focus on reviewing your performance this season and identifying areas of your game requiring improvement.
Working individually and in small groups over two days, players will work with Elite Cricket coaches in the nets, with the bowling machine and in game scenarios to identify what work needs to be done to improve tactical and technical skills critical to their game for next season.
Players will receive a detailed report including technical and tactical analysis and key recommendations on areas needing improvement.
Our talented and experienced coaches work under the guidance of Elite Cricket founder and former Australian XI and Australia ‘A’ representative Mark Atkinson (Level 3 Coach).
Players will participate in a program of enjoyable, yet challenging age and skill appropriate development activities including:
- Attacking and defensive batting
- Pace, swing and spin bowling
- Short catching and out-fielding
- Wicket-keeping
- Modified games including Kanga pairs, Super 8’s, diamond cricket, centre wicket and net scenarios
- Sessions on strategy, tactics and performance
- Coaching ratio of 1 to 8
- Players will receive tuition in the innovative and proven Elite Cricket method, techniques and principles.
Note: Please read our frequently asked questions before booking.
SCHEDULE
St. Ignatius College, Riverview – 11th, 12th & 13th April
The program runs 9am-3pm.
Cheers
Mark
SPECIAL OFFER: The off-season is an excellent time to work on your skills without the pressure of gameplay. All players in the program will be offered the opportunity to purchase a special promotional package to attend over the winter months a series of 6 High Performance Individual Coaching sessions for the price of 5 ($400).
April 2012 ‘On The Ball’ Beginners Program
‘On the Ball’ is for girls and boys from 5 -7 years, who have perhaps never played cricket or who have just begun their cricketing career. In these sessions our aim is to have some fun, some fitness and learn about the game of cricket.
- Is an excellent way to introduce young players and beginners to basic cricket skills and have fun through a range of skill development activities and modified games
- Encourages physical activity while providing a fun cricket experience to all participants
- Great for beginners and keen young players and is a great complement or addition to Milo – ‘Have a Go’ program
Note: Please read our frequently asked questions before booking.
SCHEDULE
April 2012
St. Ignatius College, Riverview – 11th, 12th & 13th April
The program runs 9am-12pm.
Cheers
Mark
Thinking Batting
‘To handle the situations which you face during a game, you must think clearly and sensibly. You will then be able to apply your skills in the best possible way to overcome the difficulties you face. You won’t get over these problem if you don’t think properly’ - Sir Garfield Sobers
In order to bat well you must think well! Better players make better decisions more often or in other words the thinking that drives successful batting involves making accurate decisions over time.
One of the most critical thinking tasks a batsman needs to undertake is to recognize both the controllable and uncontrollable elements that influence performance. Successful performers understand these differences and have a strong focus on controlling the controllable elements of their performance, as there is no point seeking to control what you cannot.
A major controllable element of a batsman’s game critical to his success is his thinking. Every ball you face is an opportunity to make a good or bad decision and in this sense a batsman’s thinking is a highly significant influence on his performance. If you think clearly and sensibly you are giving yourself your best chance of success and the cost of not clearly thinking is your effectiveness and success as a player.
My views on thinking for batting are very simple – there are only 3 decisions that you need to make:
- Defend – if the ball is hitting the stumps
- Leave – if the ball is missing the stumps and you can’t attack it safely
- Attack – if the ball is missing the stumps and you can attack it safely
In order to drive this process you need to watch the ball in order to have the information you need to make the best decision you can for each ball faced.
Recommendations
- Develop a simple batting plan that you know will work
- Practice executing your plan until you know your game intimately
- Relax and watch the ball
- Train how you play and treat your net sessions like a game – implement your plan – tactically and technically
- Enjoy the challenge of having to make a decision every ball – the better you become at this the more runs you will make.
- Develop a good technique that allows you to execute your plan – it’s no good having a plan if you can’t execute it at the technical level
- Enjoy the responsibility of having to make good decisions every ball
Good luck
Mark
February Fast Bowling Program With Wayne Holdsworth
Designed for fast and swing bowlers, the program is an ideal way to increase your skills and learn more about the art of fast bowling.
Headed by Wayne “Cracker” Holdsworth this intensive, structured program focuses on developing the correct technique to optimise performance and prevent injury featuring video analysis and a customised individual high performance strategy.
The program will run on Sundays February 12th and 26th 9am-10.30am at St. Ignatius College, Riverview.
Please note that places are strictly limited.
Note: Please read our frequently asked questions before booking.
Ignatius College, Riverview – 12th and 26th February 2012
The program runs 9am-10.30am.
February Wicketkeeping Boot Camp With Mark Atkinson
A good wicketkeeper is critical to the success of any team. They need to be reliable, fit, skilful, tough and at times brilliant but this key position can often by occupied by the player who is, at times, a forgotten man at practice. A good keeper can turn a game their team’s way with an outstanding catch, stumping or run-out and in order for a wicketkeeper to excel they must put in quality time and effort to work on all aspects of their game.
This intensive program is most suitable for aspiring wicketkeepers who have already had some experience in match play situations, covers all aspects of the art of wicketkeeping and leaves players feeling confident and ready for their best season behind the stumps.
Features video analysis.
Coached and designed by Mark Atkinson
St. Ignatius College, Riverview – 5th, 12th, 19th and 26th February 2012
The program runs 9am-10.30am.
Elite Cricket Testimonial Competition – The Top 10
Congratulations to Billy McGuinness who is the winner of 3 High Performance Individual Coaching sessions from Elite Cricket for his testimonial. The response was overwhelming, it was great reading, thanks guys! Keep up the great work one and all!
The winner!
#1
I heard from a friend how good Elite Cricket was, but hesitated to send my son, as I had shelves of books & DVDs on how to play the game, & was already paying for ”top quality” coaching. Big mistake.
I just wish I hadn’t wasted so much time & money, & gone straight to Elite Cricket. It’s the best investment I’ve ever made.
Mark’s methods are totally different, & a quantum leap above what the other coaches offer.
Right from the 1st session, my son Billy has hit the ball harder, had better footwork, & the difference in his wicket keeping has been astounding. Billy’s technique, & mental approach, are now 100% better.
He continues to improve with each session.
If you aren’t being coached by Elite Cricket, you are missing out!
Rex McGuinness, Bowral, NSW, Australia.
#2
Elite cricket helped me become a professional cricketer
Sandy Rogers, Tasmania
#3
Mark Atkinson and Elite cricket were the major force in transforming my game and helping me achieve my cricket goals. Through structured sessions and years of experience, Mark built my technique and honed my thinking. Elite Cricket not only developed my batsmanship but my awareness of the game in general. Its influence has undoubtedly made me a better cricketer and, more importantly, helped me to appreciate the game as a whole.
Sam Perry, Melbourne
#4
The coaching staff at Elite Cricket has helped me become a better cricketer by correcting flaws in my technique and by helping me understand that there is more to being a successful cricketer than having a good technique. The coaches act as mentors and are very clear in explaining their points; they find the perfect balance between seriousness and enjoying your cricket. It is has been expressed to me by the coaches that cricket is a sport which is predominantly about your mental ability as opposed to your technical skills.
Paddy Dinham, Sydney
#5
There are six ways my batting has improved due to my eight sessions of training with Elite. My backlift has shortened. My balance at the crease has improved. I have learnt to keep my head still when batting. i have become more confident and attacking as a bat. I have learnt to be more selective in my shots. I have become better at making strong shapes at the crease.
My bowling has improved in three ways. I raise and pull down on my left hand a lot more when I bowl. I have learnt to push my right arm through when bowling to help control my natural inswing. I have started to follow through a lot more.
Nikolai Dale
#6
I’ve been to two Elite Cricket coaching clinics and it has definitely improved both my bowling and batting.
Whilst at your clinic, I was instructed in basic bowling techniques and this has definitely helped me to bowl with more control.
During the many batting lessons, my stance and foot movement not only improved my balance, but allowed me to accurately dispatch balls to all areas of the field. These lessons have also allowed me to occupy the crease for increasing periods of time.
My coach wants me to be more aggressive with my stroke play because my scoring has been slow.
I feel much more confident in attempting shots since attending your clinics and feel with more tuition, I should be able to achieve a greater scoring repertoire.
Both Mum and Dad have seen such improvement since first attending your clinics, they have agreed to allow me to attend the 5 High Performance Individual Coaching sessions for $400.
On top of all that, I really enjoy the time spent at your clinics learning this wonderful game.
Happy New Year and Thanks heaps for all you’ve done for me and my cricket!
Jack McGrath
#7
I love cricket and want to play for my country when I grow up. When I went to Elite Coaching in the holidays they helped me with my batting, bowling and wicket keeping – it was really good. I am a pace bowler and my favourite batting stroke is a sweep.
Alex Cormack,
#8
A couple of sessions with Mark and his team really changed my batting. In the space of a month, my average improved by over 20 runs! I posted my personal best score immediately after the first coaching session and I’ve beaten that every time I’ve gone out to bat since. The sessions are great, they’re fast paced and adapted to your skill level and really focused on getting you to be the best you can. I can’t recommend Elite Cricket enough, I’ve got 2 more sessions paid for and I’ll definitely be back to work on my bowling.
Sebastian Graham
#9
I am 9. I am writing on Dad’s computer – he pays for my lessons.
Last year was my first cricket season. I had one good score. After your class I became second best player in my team(in batting and bowling). After everything you taught me(the skills)I practised them over winter. I am still only second best player in my team but the best is a reps team player, and I made reps too!
In reps I am first-change, and was second highest wicket taker for my team.
I led the attack with my club U10s side and have been asked to help at the U11s too. They even gave me the new ball when I stepped up to the U11s. I have the best economy rate in U10s and U11s.
The batting skills you taught me helped me to hold my end in our reps quarter final. We won by just two wickets.
I would like to win these lessons as I would like to continue to improve my skills and become as good a player as Shane Watson (my favourite).
Alexander Deller
#10
In the years I have been going to Elite cricket, I have not only improved my batting but also my bowling. I always get opportunities to bowl to the other kids at Elite Cricket.
Mark and his team have been so supportive and encouraging that I not only improved my ability and technique but I am also more disciplined, and I am a more confident player. This is easily demonstrated on the field in my leadership qualities.
I would like to thank Mark and his wonderful team at Elite cricket for the excellent coaching, support and encouragement given to me and also for the numerous opportunities presented to me.
I would recommend Elite cricket coaching to any young aspiring cricketer as they will be guided and supported to be great cricketers and receive proper coaching and discipline in all aspects of the game.
Thanks and Regards
Brandon
January 2012 School Holiday Program
School Holiday Programs are cricket coaching events that offer an enjoyable and challenging program of both individual and group skill development cricket activities and match play for players aged 7 -12.
Our talented and experienced coaches work under the guidance of Elite Cricket founder and former Australian XI and Australia ‘A’ representative Mark Atkinson (Level 3 Coach).
Players will participate in a program of enjoyable, yet challenging age and skill appropriate development activities including:
- Attacking and defensive batting
- Pace, swing and spin bowling
- Short catching and out-fielding
- Wicket-keeping
- Modified games including Kanga pairs, Super 8’s, diamond cricket, centre wicket and net scenarios
- Sessions on strategy, tactics and performance
- Coaching ratio of 1 to 8
- Players will receive tuition in the innovative and proven Elite Cricket method, techniques and principles.
Note: Please read our frequently asked questions before booking.
SCHEDULE
January 2012
St. Ignatius College, Riverview – 9th, 10th & 11th January
Shore School, Northbridge – 16th, 17th & 18th January
Woollahra Oval, Woollahara – 18th, 19th & 20th January
The program runs 9am-3pm.
Cheers
Mark
Expert Cricket Coaching
Mark's cricket coaching credentials and expertise are second to none. Get in touch today.
