The power of language in sport

The language you use to communicate can have a profound effect on performance. Whether it's talking to yourself or others, effective communication and an understanding of the power of language is a fine skill to possess, and one that is as relevant to sporting achievement as any other area of life.

What does the language you use both internally – through self-talk – and externally, say about you? And more importantly, what impact does it have on your performance?

Stick to the facts

To maintain positive progress in sport you must be factual rather than critical. The separation between saying "I played really badly – I was rubbish" and "I had a challenging game" after a match can mean the difference between success and failure next time you play. The first statement suggests the athlete made nothing but mistakes in the entire match and the sentence concludes with an opinion-based criticism not necessarily founded in fact.

To suggest yourself or to your team that you have not performed well is natural. However try not to qualify it with critical opinion. Instead, accept the facts and form a forward-facing, positive ambition based on those facts, for example: "I had a challenging game – next training session I will spend 10 minutes receiving the ball on the move."

Positive language

Language needs to be positive in order to achieve our goals and perform well.

How often have you started a competition with a focus on what you don't want to do?

e.g. "I don't want to hit the ball into the bunker" or "I don't want to miss the next tackle".

The brain has now been made conscious of the 'bunker' and 'miss tackle' and that is the message that it will send the body. If you focus on what you don't want rather than what you do want, you increase your chances of the negative scenario becoming real i.e. hitting the bunker or missing the tackle.

Simply by avoiding the word "don't" and using language that suggests what you do want to happen you will increase your chances of success.

e.g. "I do want to hit the green", or "I do want to successfully time my tackle"

What happens when you use the word "can't"

Dictionary definition: Can't = a verb expressing inability/incapacity

To use the word 'can't' sends a subconscious message to your brain and body that something is unattainable e.g. "I just can't swim long course pools" it is like putting up a brick wall that cannot and will never be conquered. As a result, the unconscious question "What is the point?" is often formed, compromising your performance.

Next time you catch yourself saying "can't", change it to "challenging".

Dictionary definition: Challenging = demanding or stimulating, testing one's ability.

The word challenging acknowledges that you find something difficult but with hope of achieving it, if the brain and body are sent a subconscious message that something is achievable you have more chance of being successful. For example: "I find long course swimming pools challenging."

Notice what language you are using next time you experience self-talk or perhaps when you are chatting to someone about your performance. Once you become aware of language you can use it positively for performance enhancement.