Self-talk is the running internal dialogue athletes carry during training and competition — the instructions, judgments, and encouragements you direct at yourself. It is constant and powerful: the words you use shape your emotions, where your attention goes, and how much effort you sustain.
Sport psychology distinguishes two main functions. Instructional self-talk directs technique and attention ("watch the ball," "stay tall") and is most useful for skill execution. Motivational self-talk builds effort and confidence ("I've got this," "one more") and is most useful for energy and persistence. Effective self-talk is not relentlessly positive — it's useful, steadying emotion and aiming attention at the task.
A practical, portable form of self-talk is the cue word — a short trigger phrase rehearsed until it reliably produces a desired state. Self-talk is one of the six domains of mental performance and is central to mistake recovery. Learn more in our guide on self-talk in sport.