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KOPFSACHE
4 min read · Ages 13–18

One mistake is one mistake. Three are a habit.

Why mistakes come in a series and how a 3-second routine breaks the chain.

HandballMistakes & Setbacks

The technical error is rarely the problem. The problem is the 20 seconds after: You look at the bench, you judge yourself, you're not in the game. And because you're not in the game, the next mistake happens.

Why a gesture works better than a thought

"Don't think about it" doesn't work – the phrase itself contains what you're trying not to think about. A physical action, though, is clear: grab your shirt, breathe out, say a word, look forward. Your mind gets a task instead of a ban.

Practise it where it's cheap

Use the routine in training after every misplaced pass. After two to three weeks, it will run automatically – and then it will also work in a cup game.

Tools for that

Foundation & Method

Emotion RegulationCBTAttention Control
  • Attention Control: Post-error slowing and attentional shift after errors
  • CBT: Rumination as a perpetuating factor

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These contents are knowledge and training offerings from sport psychology. They do not replace psychotherapy, medical treatment, or professional sport psychological support.

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