College athletes feel great pressure and experience the fear of failure as their performances are watched by thousands in the stands and millions at home.
Those feelings have, unfortunately, been compounded by Name Image Likeness (NIL) deals.
An athlete’s image and thus income is on the line if they deliver a poor performance.
With many NIL deals also heavily based on an athlete’s social media following, there are now more external distractions and pressures on athletes than ever before.
In days gone by, it was easy for athletes to shut out external noise, but with there being a requirement to be on social media and make media appearances, this has become harder than ever.
It’s also easy to forget that these athletes also have to juggle full-time study and a high-performance training schedule.
Here are some mental skills that athletes can use to overcome these pressures:
Remember Your ‘Why’
The pressure to perform for sponsorships, social media engagement, and external validation can pull athletes away from what truly drives them.
While external motivators like NIL deals can provide short-term incentives, they are unpredictable and can lead to burnout if they become the primary focus.
Instead, reconnect with your intrinsic motivation—the love for the game, the challenge, the personal growth.
Reflect on why you started playing in the first place. When external pressures build up, remembering your ‘why’ can bring clarity and long-term resilience.
Effective Goal Setting
Without clear goals, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed by the many demands placed on college athletes.
Setting specific, achievable goals in three key areas—process, performance, and outcome—can provide direction and motivation:
- Process goals focus on daily habits (e.g., improving footwork, committing to recovery routines).
- Performance goals track personal growth (e.g., increasing shooting percentage, improving mile time).
- Outcome goals set bigger-picture aspirations (e.g., making an all-conference team, securing an NIL deal). By breaking goals into smaller steps, athletes can stay motivated, measure progress, and maintain a sense of control over their performance.
Stay Present and Manage Distractions
With the constant noise of social media, comparisons, and external expectations, staying present is one of the biggest challenges for modern athletes.
Instead of getting caught up in likes, comments, or the pressure to maintain a personal brand, develop strategies to focus on the present moment.
Techniques like mindfulness, grounding exercises, and journaling can help athletes regain control over their thoughts and emotions.
OMP can assist sport psychologists and mental performance coaches in serving programs to athletes who experience the stressors associated with NIL.
