In sport, attention constantly shifts — between the ball, your opponent, court positioning, and the decisions unfolding in real time. The challenge is not the amount of information available, but knowing what deserves your focus and what should be ignored.

Why Concentration Matters

Concentration is not about trying harder. It is about directing attention deliberately toward what matters most in the moment.

Players who perform well under pressure are not free from distraction. Rather, they develop the ability to shift attention quickly while filtering out irrelevant thoughts, past mistakes, or worries about the outcome.

Case Study

Ash Barty — Attention on the Next Ball

Ash Barty became the world’s number one tennis player through her disciplined approach to focus. Match after match, she spoke about keeping her attention on the next ball, the next decision — rather than the scoreboard or the outcome.

Her approach showed that concentration is not about blocking everything out, but about deliberately returning attention to the task that matters most.

Focus on the next ball — not the outcome.

Key Insights for Athletes

• Concentration improves when attention stays on the next action, not the outcome.
• Distraction is normal — the skill is returning focus quickly.
• Consistent performance comes from controlling where attention goes during a point.

Take It With You

Where does my attention go during a point — to the scoreboard, or to the next ball I need to play?

About the Author

Eddie Baghdikian is a graduate of Deakin University’s Graduate Diploma of Sport Management and the Australian College of Applied Psychology’s Graduate Diploma of Counselling. With his passion for performance psychology, Eddie brings a practical and accessible approach to strengthening the mental side of sport.

Instagram: @eddiebaghdikian