Experts say even weekend warriors can benefit from the kinds of mental strategies Olympic athletes follow, things like following a routine or adopting a mantra to guide you through crucial movements. Take your mind off the details of your movement. Sing to yourself or count backward by threes as you step up to the crucial shot, advises Sian Beilock, a University of Chicago psychologist. Maybe you can just say "smooth" or "straight" to yourself as a mantra as you act. Another trick is to get used to pressure situations by practicing under the gaze of an observer or a video camera. Still another is to write down your worries before a big event. It's "almost like downloading them" from your mind so "they're less likely to pop up and distract you in the moment," says Beilock. — Malcolm Ritter — Twitter http://www.twitter.com/malcolmritter ___ EDITOR'S NOTE — "Eyes on London" shows you the Olympics through the eyes of Associated Press journalists across the 2012 Olympic city and around the world. Follow them on Twitter where available with the handles listed after each item.
FOR THE WEEKEND WARRIORS
— Aug. 1 9:53 PM EDT
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FILE - In this Thursday, July 14, 2011 file photo, United States' Megan Rapinoe bounces a ball with her head during a training session in preparation for the final match against Japan during the Women's Soccer World Cup in Frankfurt, Germany. Rapinoe, a midfielder on the American soccer team at the 2012 Olympics, prepares for competition with a pre-game ritual. "I put my headphones on the bus from when we leave the hotel over to the stadium, just kind of getting into the zone, just kind of relax and get into it." (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)
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