ABSTRACT
This chapter provides coaches with information regarding how they can help their athletes become more mindful and thus relax in pressurised situations better. Mindfulness, also referred to as mindful awareness, derives from Buddhism traditions. Mindfulness training also enhanced attention and performance among national level swimmers as well as improved focus. A crucial aspect of mindfulness training is awareness or attention on moment-to-moment observations. The technique of being caring towards oneself has been used by the British tennis player, Andy Murray. After each exhalation the athlete is instructed to silently say a number to him or herself. After the first exhalation the athlete should say ‘one’ silently. Coaches could encourage their athletes to think about a time when they have played sport with a negative mind set, such as feeling anger due to a wrong call from an official, shame from making a mistake and/or letting his or her teammates down.
