You Control Your Response
Hey, team, happy Sunday!
Challenges don’t break you — your reaction to them does. Master your mindset, master your game.
For Athletes: Responding with Composure
3 Ways to Control Your Response During Competition
Pause before reacting. Take a breath after a mistake or tough play — your next action matters more than your frustration.
Focus on controllables. Score, opponents, and weather can’t always be changed — your effort and attitude can.
Use positive self-talk. Replace “I blew it” with “I can fix this on the next play.”
2 Quotes to Remember
Epictetus: “It’s not what happens to you, but how you react to it that matters.”
“You can’t control the pitch, but you can control your swing and your mindset.”
1 Question to Reflect On
What’s one habit I can use in-game to reset my mind after a tough moment?
For Parents: Helping Athletes Own Their Mindset
3 Ways to Encourage Thoughtful Responses
Model calm under pressure. Your reaction shapes how your athlete perceives challenges.
Ask process-focused questions. “How did you handle that moment?” instead of “Why did that happen?”
Praise resilience. Celebrate how they respond, not just the outcome.
2 Quotes to Anchor You
“Your influence is strongest when you respond before reacting.”
John Wooden: “Things turn out best for those who make the best of the way things turn out.”
1 Question to Reflect On
Am I helping my athlete view challenges as opportunities to practice mental control, or am I focusing too much on results?
For Coaches: Leading Through Mindset
3 Ways to Guide Athletes to Control Responses
Teach composure drills. Simulate stressful situations and practice calm decision-making.
Highlight choice over circumstance. Emphasize effort, focus, and attitude as controllable elements.
Provide quick cues. A word or gesture can reset focus mid-play without stopping the flow.
2 Quotes to Coach With
Pete Carroll: “The only thing you can control is your effort and attitude.”
“Great players are made in the moments they manage their emotions, not in the moments they avoid them.”
1 Question to Reflect On
How am I equipping my team to respond rather than react when pressure mounts?
Challenges will come — it’s your response that decides whether they define you or develop you. Stay intentional. Stay composed.
With you in the process,
David Lovell
Founder of the F.O.C.U.S. System | Mental Performance Coach
P.S. Want weekly mental toughness tips in your feed? Follow along at: https://www.instagram.com/dlovell88/