IntelliSport

Summary

People who perform tasks badly are usually over-confident of their abilities – even more confident than those who perform the same tasks well, explains a recent New York Times article. One reason for this overconfidence is that the skills required for competence are usually the same skills necessary to recognize competence. Further, overestimation of one’s abilities is more likely for ambiguous, difficult tasks (like using proper sport technique) than for easy ones. Fortunately, mental training can help athletes assess their own performance more realistically, which will allow them to find and exploit areas for improvement. For example, having athletes watch and assess their own performance on video can allow them to assess their performance more realistically.

Implementation

• Make sure your athletes understand the importance of accurate self-assessment. Understanding one’s own strengths and weaknesses allows athletes to identify and exploit potential areas for improvement.
• Train your athletes to objectively assess their own performance. Have them watch video tape, or have them explain to you areas where they need to improve.
• Try to encourage honest feedback among athletes. Often, teammates can help each other recognize when someone is overconfident in his or her abilities.