Healthy competition amongst team players or athletes in general is necessary for success in every 2 player sports. It not only means that you should be able to beat your opponent in a graceful and humble way but it should help you become the best version of yourself and grow with your team members. Engaging in health competition certainly has its benefits for both an individual and a team. We will discuss below some of the amazing benefits of healthy competition and how sports psychology works.
1. IT WORKS AS A MOTIVATOR TO WIN
Having a competitive mindset has its own advantages as it provides a natural fuel to win. While unhealthy competition in sports may lead to anger, overuse injuries and rivalry, healthy competition helps in getting rid of any negative feelings of jealousy, entitlement and cynicism. The key is to manage your emotions properly; think of competition as a positive thing. Have a clear motivation to win, you can think of different reasons that may help you do so.
2. IT IMPROVES YOUR SKILLS AS AN ATHLETE
Practicing alone as well as competing with others can really help you shape up as an athlete even if you play solo sports. According to research, healthy competitions can improve your motor coordination and cognition which makes the attention span strong. It helps you become mentally tough which is necessary to perform well despite any challenges or setbacks faced. It also helps to boost self-esteem and confidence. It sparks creativity in us and come up with innovate ways to win against the opponent.
3. IT PROMOTES BETTER TEAMWORK AND ACTIVITIES
There are a lot of team sports such as football, baseball, basketball, cricket etc. which require excellent teamwork in order to win against the opposing team in friendly or serious competitions. Teamwork is an important aspect in life which is not just restricted to sports. It brings out the best in everyone as you work together and learn how to communicate with others. From strategizing to planning, it helps you think realistically and smartly while everyone works for the same end goal. It promotes mutual trust and dependency. As you win and lose together, you can celebrate your wins together and be there to console each other while losing.
4. IDENTIFY YOUR OWN OUR STRENGTHS AND WEAKNESSES
Taking part in competitive sports can really help you identify your set of strengths- which in turn you can help you sharpen and improve your skills while making better use of them in future competitions. While, on the other hand you also become aware of your weaknesses- what is holding you back and what you can work on to change them into strengths. These valuable insights also change you as a person because you learn how to deal with your weaknesses in healthy and positive way, instead of feeling low and giving up.
In order to perceive competition as healthy, it is essential to have a strong will and tough mind to deal with anything that gets in your way!
