Be Decisive

Making quick and impactful decisions is essential during dynamic and important games. Athletes who can make quick decisions tend to determine the flow of the game, feel in control, and are more confident. The good news it that decision making is a skill and, therefore, can be improved. The best way to improve your decision making skills is to practice until your capabilities feel like a reflex. 

Better decision makers can act on their decisions much quicker than other rivals. Additionally, these athletes can evaluate and act on their decision much more quickly under intense pressure. 

Take a look at the steps below to understand how to be more decisive. 

Identify and Analyze the Problem
The athlete must first be able to identify that a problem actually exists and must realize that an action must be taken in order to overcome the problem. Once the athlete has identified the problem they must figure out what is causing this problem. 

Examine the Options 
The athlete must examine all the actions that can be taken in order to achieve the desired outcome. Practice is the best way to fully evaluate all the options. During practice the coach and athlete are able to take their time since they are not under real pressure of a game.

Choose the Best Option
Once all the options have been analyzed, it is time to pick the best one in order to achieve the desired outcome. In this step the athlete must choose the option that not only gets them to the desired result but also aligns with the team's broader goals. 

Since decision making is a skill that can be improved, it should be practiced. It is essential for coaches to create opportunities in practice for their players to improve their decision-making skills. 

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