Super Bowl edition: the learning traits of elite athetes.

How do high-performance athletes prepare cognitively and psychologically for a winning performance on game day?

Research suggests that elite athletes have a number of hallmark characteristics:

• They are tough-minded and not easily rattled.

• Creativity is essential in unscripted plays.

• Performance anxiety is a leading cause of poor athletic performance.

• To perform at the highest level, the players are process-oriented.