Research into the minds of star athletes is increasingly showing that mastery of what’s in your head is the largest part of excelling on the field.

Self-doubt, external criticism, and people’s expectations of you (not to mention your own expectations) are all mental states that you need to figure out how to deal with, so they don’t weaken your ability and mess with your head.

As a young person starting out in the game, you will be facing your own unique set of challenges. But lack of confidence and doubt do not need to be added to that list. By building the right psyche, you can make all the difference to your game.