Why the Hardest Game We Play is in Our Head

Mitchell Greene Sport Psychology

Sometimes the game on the field isn’t the hardest one we play. Sure, it’s challenging to make a three pointer, jump over a hurdle, stop a hard-hit puck, and stay on pointe. But, maintaining the right frame of mind, especially when the pressure is on, makes it difficult to be a mentally tough competitor. Athletes who learn to manage their “side games”—the term I use for the psychological games athletes play—are bound to see immediate benefits. Let me explain.