The world continues to be gripped by the Coronavirus global pandemic.
It affects everyone, including top-notch athletes, unable to physically train as they would like.
Athletes require many attributes to excel at their chosen sport - practice, determination and skill are but a few.
BUT…
“Sport is 10% physical - and 90% mental.”
Whoever coined the phrase (and no-one actually seems to know!) referred to the too-oft-neglected importance of mental attitude in sport.
Athletes are well aware of how physical condition can affect performance - but how aware are they of MENTAL conditioning?
Sport is largely about strength in adversity, and that makes it particularly relevant in our current C-19 world.
Sports coaches are now turning more and more to visualization techniques, mental strength and positive outlook advice while their athletes are unable to fully address physical concerns during these unprecedented days.
“The power of imagined practice is huge…it reproduces the neurological routes that would occur if we performed the situation in reality” (Fisher, 1986; cited by Jiménez, 2007)
How can athletes use this period of lockdown to work towards long term success?
Athletes will be feeling the anxiety of being unable to train as they would wish at this time.
It is a time for them to look to their creativity to prevent any dip in performance.
Here are a few strategies athletes can adopt to maintain levels:
• Awareness of health and physical needs - eat, sleep, purpose, planning. Pay close regard to each in turn.
• Develop an appropriate training regimen - maintain a routine, at the same time of day.
• Talk to your peers - you are not alone and discussion with others in the same situation will help.
All athletes know - MARGINS MATTER
And hypnosis - training the mind - can open the doors to those margins.
It can provide and hone:
Confidence
The certainty that physical and mental elements are in place for optimum performance.
Motivation
The need to remain constantly motivated can be enhanced by positive thought processes.
Focus and Mental Toughness
Focus must be intense and constant, concentration high.
Rehearsal Techniques
Visualization of performance.
Whatever the sport, whatever the level, hypnosis can give every athlete the extra seconds, strength, centimetres that lay within those margins.
Throughout the rest of 2020, I am making available to sports clubs, and teams a complimentary one-hour online group session to enable them to access the psychological side of their sport.
Do get in touch by clicking HERE to arrange and keep your “head in the game”.