Gymnastics, figure skating and diving are very exact and one mistake can destroy a competitor's score and morale. It is very difficult to make an error early in a routine and not let it affect the rest of the performance.

It is also not easy to forget about a bad routine and get ready for the next one. However, it is absolutely necessary to develop the discipline to do both in order to stay in the competition. You cannot allow yourself to be defeated from within. You must keep the pressure on the competition and make them beat you; do not beat yourself.

When Paul Hamm stumbled off the mat as he was landing in the vault in the all-around men's gymnastics Olympic competition, he fell into 12th place. His spirits dropped even lower as his chance for the gold medal seemed to disappear. He had to get out of this negative mind set quickly. What good would it do to focus on this mistake as he prepared for his turn on the parallel bars? None at all.

Instead he took a positive approach. Since he had nothing to lose, he could compete fearlessly and just have fun while trying his best. Just as Sarah Hughes in the 2002 Winter Olympics came from behind on the second day of skating by competing aggressively, Hamm had to do the same in his last two events, one at a time.

An athlete who falls far behind cannot afford to compete conservatively because she knows that only supreme efforts and results will suffice in order to have any chance of winning. When athletes are ahead, they have a tendency to perform not to lose and protect their lead. This is what happened to Michelle Kwan in her skating competition against Hughes. Kwan was not relaxed and was too careful. It seemed as if she held back, fearful of making mistakes, which she did.

How many times have we seen athletes and teams who are ahead become overly cautious? It happens so often in all sports. After the game the reporters and fans all ask the same question-why did the team that was playing so well stop playing aggressively? Why did the athlete or team that was winning let their opponents regain their confidence and get back into the game?

Much has to do with human nature. Teams that are ahead tend to psychologically ease up. They do not keep their concentration as intense because over a long time period of play this is extremely difficult to do. Also, when a team has a lead there is a strong tendency to protect it. The expression, "the clock is your ally" always comes up in sports that are timed. Why risk making errors by taking chances when you are ahead? Use up the clock by slowing play down.

Teams that are behind are always looking for a spark, something to wake them up. A fumble or interception in football by the team ahead can provide this impetus. Fear of making these mistakes is the reason why the team in the lead carefully runs the ball run three times and has to punt. It wants the clock to wind down. It plays not to lose, but usually destroys its momentum and then has to rely on its defense to hold the lead.

Gymnastics, figure skating and diving are especially pressurized because with one mistake a performer can fall way behind. Team sports and individual sports such as tennis have more room for error because of the direct competition and there is more time to come back from behind. There are ebbs and flows to the game. It may seem very difficult to turn the tide when nothing seems to be working, but then a window of opportunity probably will open and, if taken advantage of, the whole complexion of the game may change.

So many factors can influence a team's psyche when losing. One problem occurs when a team gets desperate when behind and tries to make up the deficit right away instead of doing it in stages. While the trailing team cannot play conservatively, they still must not rush things and lose their composure. Team members must focus on their strengths and play smart. They usually have to take more chances than their opponent, but they should not be not careless ones.

Carly Patterson, in the women's all-around gymnastics followed Paul Hamm's example by coming back from eighth place to win the gold medal. Both gymnasts proved their mental toughness by coming through emphatically when the stakes were highest. They demonstrated that it was possible to come back after falling down. They overcame obstacles by reaching inside themselves to find the courage and resolve to reach their goals.

All athletes must develop this mental toughness to be successful. Trailing in a game is not a final result. There are also forces acting on the leaders that may work to your benefit. Compete at your best, both mentally and physically, because you never know what can happen in sports until the game is over. Keep a positive focus and never give up.

Robert Trupin is a consultant and an expert on the psychological aspects of sports. He can be reached at (203) 318-0843 regarding your opinions and concerns.