Those who have participated in Play Like a Champion's High School Coach Clinic will remember that psychologist Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi coined the term "flow" to describe the state of humans being totally absorbed in what they're doing. Sometimes we also refer to this as an athlete being "in the zone" or "in a groove." That's the imagery that coach and administrator Andrea McCabe calls to mind when she talks about focus in the video to the left.

Focus is a term we use often as coaches as critical to maximizing athletic performance. So how do we help our athletes to focus in order to experience the moment described in the video? We can start by setting the right environment. When talking about Flow, Csikszentmihalyi notes that it's important athletes are relaxed, positive and enjoying the activity in which they are participating. The same is true when discussing focus: it's hard to focus when you have too much on your mind or when you would rather be somewhere else entirely. To help athletes focus, coaches can ask themselves the following questions when planning for practices and games:

Distractions can range from serious situations at home or school to something as simple as another team practicing in the same space. While it may be difficult to eliminate all distractions for your team, being aware of them can help coaches to manage them and improve focus.

Another important component of focus is to make sure our athletes are focused on the right thing. Too many coaches and athletes focus on things they can't control: opponents, officials, weather, or even the outcome of the game. These may all play a role in competition, but they can distract the athlete from maximizing performance. The Play Like a Champion approach emphasizes a concentration on process rather than outcome. When it comes to focus, this means emphasizing things like technique, tactics or intensity - things each athlete can control during competition. It also means doing your best to ignore the call that just went against your team (a distraction). Remember that athletes take their cues from coaches, so a positive team environment that emphasizes the correct values and goals will go a long way toward improving focus and maximizing athletic performance.

Want additional reading on focus? Check out this blog from Psychology Today and Dr. Jim Taylor. Though it may be dated years ago, it's commentary on focus in sports is no less true today!

Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is gracious, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, do; and the God of peace will be with you. ~ Philippians 4:8-9

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