On the back of my fist blog I was getting at mental strength and knowing why you want to achieve something. Well I wantto add onto the mental sstrength aspect of this. It's really quite simple, don't give up. The hard part for most people (and I am including myself here) is self motivation when the shit hits the fan. Too many people accept defeat if it's getting hard and no you can't win them all but fuck what's the harm in going out with a bang. You could put it in the same category as fight or flight, I do anyway. So back to my point on self motivation, I often cone across people not just in sport but in life who lack the belief in their own ability. I think it's nuts to think you will fail, why are the thoughts not I know I can if I just try harder. I won't sit here and tell you how to think I would recommend using some certain motivation techniques. The first one I go to is kill or be killed (not literally I don't run about killing people) but be more clinical about what your doing, think clear and precise. If you fuck up don't bitch and moan, fix it asap. Go in with as little fear as possible, too much fear could make you crumble, where as fear of loss makes me do anything possible to win (again not just sport). Don't let yourself give up, only you have control of that, if you won't do it for you, do it for reason you feel is worth it. And last but not least, bouncey music you love, I won't step on the hockey pitch with out listening to music first and once I'm on the pitch I want to be the best strongest player on the pitch not for me but for my team. So my motivation techniques once I'm out there goes a little like this, every pass, shot, tackle, run, clearance, goal and save must be done with all the effort I can possibly put in from first whistle to last, always thinking never slacking, it's fucking frowned upon, fear nothing but losing. To give up is accepting failure, that alone would disgust me. Think positive and want to work hard no matter the situation.
I know that got a bit cheesy, bit you do what works.

This may seem like a rant (kinda was) but once I'm finished part 3 and 4 it should give you an insight to how much I think goes into competing, and this is only the mental aspects of it ha ha
Sorry if you were offended by the swearing but deal with it.
Part 3 will be on dealing with pressure and capability.

Thanks for reading

Mikey.