Mark Taylor

1. Mark Taylor Mental Training “The Triangle of Success”

2. The Triangle of Success

3. FOCUS • Athletes need to focus on those aspects of their performance that are within their control. • Preparation • Execution => FOCUS ON WHAT YOU CAN CONTROL!

4. Preparation • Tools used for preparation: • Goal Development • Commitment • Pre-shot Routine • Shooting Diary • Training Plan • Visualization

5. Preparation • Develop a set of goals • Long-term goals • Short-term goals • Outcome goals 2. Make sure the goals are very specific and bounded. 3. Write down the goals in the shooting diary

6. FOCUS • Avoid focusing on outcome goals that are beyond your control. • Others Scores • Winning => FOCUS ON WHAT YOU CAN CONTROL!

7. FOCUS • An athlete’s success depends on three factors: • How well they know where you want to go (are their goals well defined)? • How much do they really want to get there (are they committed to their goals)? • How strongly do they believe in their ability to succeed (have they aligned their self-image)? => FOCUS ON YOUR SUCCESS!

8. FOCUS “Whether you believe you can or you can’t, your probably right.” - Henry Ford • An athlete’s performance is largely a function of their expectations! • An athlete’s expectations will guide their self-image • An athlete’s self-image will guide expectations => Life is a self-fulfilling prophecy!

9. FOCUS • When an athlete looks in the mirror what do they see? • An Olympic gold medallist? • An “A” class shooter? • A local club champion? • At what point does an athlete feel comfortable and at what point does an athlete get scared? => FOCUS ON WHERE YOUR COMFORT ZONE IS NOT!

10. PREPARATION 4. Goal Commitment • What does it mean to commit to a goal? • Who teaches athletes about goal commitment?

11. FOCUS • Goal Commitment (self-assessment questions) • What do you expect to gain? • What do you expect to lose? • What will the gains be for the important people in your life? • What will the cost the important people in your life? • Is the effort worth it – with no guarantee of the outcome? • Why do you want this?

12. FOCUS • Goal Commitment (cont’d) • Is there a price for having goals? • Who pays that price? • Are you prepared to pay that price? => FOCUS ON THE GOALS YOU ARE COMMITTED TO!

13. FOCUS • Given an athlete’s current skill level is their commitment strong enough to take them to their goals? • Become aware of what YOU want vs. what others want for you. => FOCUS ON WHAT YOU WANT!

14. FOCUS • Coaches need to identify WHO committed to an athlete’s goals. • An athlete not committed to a goal will never achieve it… often not knowing why. • Become aware of what an athlete wants vs. what others want for/from them. => FOCUS ON WHAT YOU WANT!

15. PREPARATION 5. Goal Re-planning • An athlete needs to understand that it is NOT a tragedy NOT to meet a goal… • … but it is important for them to understand why they did not meet that goal. • Goal Re-planning can be more important than the initial goal planning. • A temporary setback does not mean that you have to quit or give up your goals.

16. FOCUS • Goal Re-planning • Stop • Re-Plan • Focus • Go • A temporary setback does not mean that an athlete has to quit or give up their goals. • One of the hardest things an athlete has to do is let go of a goal not achieved. • Focus needs to be on the new goals – not the old ones. => FOCUS ON HOW TO TURN A NEGATIVE INTO A POSITIVE!

17. PREPARATION • To excel in anything (sports, relationships, business) an individual must begin with a commitment. • At some point the athlete must say; • “Hey I want to be really good at this.” • “I’m willing to work and do everything I can to be as good as I can be.” • “I’m making it a priority in my life.”

18. FOCUS • Commitment alone does not guarantee success. - BUT- • A lack of commitment does guarantee a lack of success. • Success is largely a dependant of how strongly an athlete believes in their own capabilities and how fully they are willing to commit themselves to their own development! => FOCUS ON YOUR COMMITMENTS!

19. FOCUS • You must become aware and focus of only those things critical to your performance. • Block out everything in the world except you and that target. • => FOCUS ON THE TASK AT HAND!

20. PREPARATION 6. Pre-Shot Routine • The BEST form of preparation an athlete can do prior to execution is the development of a pre-shot routine. • A pre-shot routine is an established set of steps that an athlete goes through before each shot is taken. • The intent of the pre-shot routine is to eliminate negative thoughts from entering the conscious mind and let shooting become automatic from the subconscious mind.

21. PREPARATION 6. Pre-Shot Routine (cont’d) • A pre-shot routine (for the current shot) starts at the moment the prior shot is completed (Evaluation Phase) and continues through completion of the current shot (Execution Phase). • The pre-shot routine often uses pre-determined Key-Thoughts (i.e., words, phrases, pictures, etc.) to keep the conscious mind focused on a positive outcome or shooting fundamental.

22. PREPARATION 6. Pre-Shot Routine (cont’d) Pre-Shot Routine Phases: • Evaluation Phase: [prior shot has just completed] - heartbeat & breathing are returned to normal. The shooter evaluates what went RIGHT with that shot and uses positive self-talk to reinforce it (e.g., “good swing”, “smooth follow-through”, “quick target acquisition”, etc.) and NOT what went wrong. • Neutral Phase: [time period between shots] – Shooter goes into ‘neutral’ – eyes and mind remain still & calm, soft focus is used to gaze into distance. At this time the Conscious mind focuses on Key Thought.

23. PREPARATION 6. Pre-Shot Routine Pre-Shot Routine Phases: • Preparation Phase: [preceding shooter or two is firing at target] - targets are observed for abnormal flight patterns or any affect of whether. At this time the Conscious mind focuses uses self talk to focus on fundamental review: • “I will set up in the proper position, execute a good gun mount, see the target clearly and make a smooth movement to break the target.” • Execution Phase: [shooter is now ready to call for target] – shooter goes through on-station check-list (e.g., eyes physically adjust to focus point, breath is used to relax body, call for target).

24. FOCUS • An athlete must use positive “keywords” to get themselves in their state of focus in order to prepare to execute at their best. • “An idle mind is the devil’s workshop.” - Mark Taylor => The best preparation focus is STICKING to a pre-shot routine.

25. FOCUS • Pre-Shot Routine • Needs to be the same EVERY time. • The best way to re-focus when things are going bad. • Won’t allow you to focus on bad shots. • The best way to maintain focus and ensure that when things are going good they will stay that way. • Will keep you from counting score(s).

26. FOCUS • An athlete’s “keywords” need to be centered on their execution – not on their outcome. • An athlete’s “keywords” should re-assure them that they have trained and are ready. • Use self-confidence building phrases like “You have done this 1000+ times before and are very capable.”

27. FOCUS • What are the three properties of a pre-shot routine: 1. Focus • Not the past! 2. Focus • Not the future! 3. Focus • Not being somewhere else!

28. PREPARATION 7. The Shooting Diary is the best physical preparation tool available to shooters • Range Information (lighting, background) • Facility Information (food, bathrooms, shade). 8. The Training Plan is contained within the Shooting Diary and is by definition a set of ‘pre-prepared’ goals used to remove indecisiveness from an athlete’s training regime. • When stored in plastic sheet-covers they are less likely to be changed and more likely to be followed.

29. The Winning Mind-Set –The culmination of Preparation & Focus • “Winner’s Expect to Win” • “Winner’s Set the Stage for Success” • “Winner’s Know They Can Only Control Themselves” • “Winners Make Winning Part of Their Comfort Zone” • “Winners Know What Makes Them Perform Well” • “Winners Know How to Control Anxiety”