Whether you have played, coached or simply been a spectator, you have almost certainly heard athletes telling themselves or others to focus, concentrate, or pay attention.
Many coaches and athletes believe being able to properly concentrate may be the most important mental skill in sports. Their argument usually is, it doesn't matter how good you are if you can't keep your mind on the task at hand. Many sports upsets have been explained by a lack of focus or concentration. Serena Williams once said, "If you can keep playing tennis when somebody is shooting a gun down the street, that's concentration.