From the MINDSi Sports Performance team.
Gavin Wilson
Senior Sports Performance Coach
Friday 31 December 2010
Sport Psychology - Practice Doesn't Make Perfect
Surprised? Well whilst practice / training is obviously extremely important; what is more important is the "right" practice - both physical and mental.
I have talked previously about minimising "interference" during competition and the best way to do that is to ensure that certain elements of your training replicate competition and match conditions.
You can do this in a number of ways, but use your imagination. Here are some of my favourites to use regularly as part of your normal training regime:
- Prepare for your training in exactly the same way you would for your toughest match
- Wear the same kit and use the same equipment that you do for competitions
- With headphones and an iPod play a recording of hostile crowd throughout practice
- Ask a training partner, team mate or coach to "rattle you" during practice
- Keep the practice session to exactly the same length of time as your match.
Simple tips, but ones that can give you the edge when competing. So make practice "real" on occasions.
It is paramount that athletes, coaches and teams spend time, energy and effort learning to perform the fundamental skills of their sport in competition conditions.
Practice this and you will be on the way to sporting perfection.
Gavin Wilson
Senior Sports Performance Coach
I have talked previously about minimising "interference" during competition and the best way to do that is to ensure that certain elements of your training replicate competition and match conditions.
You can do this in a number of ways, but use your imagination. Here are some of my favourites to use regularly as part of your normal training regime:
- Prepare for your training in exactly the same way you would for your toughest match
- Wear the same kit and use the same equipment that you do for competitions
- With headphones and an iPod play a recording of hostile crowd throughout practice
- Ask a training partner, team mate or coach to "rattle you" during practice
- Keep the practice session to exactly the same length of time as your match.
Simple tips, but ones that can give you the edge when competing. So make practice "real" on occasions.
It is paramount that athletes, coaches and teams spend time, energy and effort learning to perform the fundamental skills of their sport in competition conditions.
Practice this and you will be on the way to sporting perfection.
Gavin Wilson
Senior Sports Performance Coach
Wednesday 29 December 2010
Basketball Psychology - The Motivation Of Proving People Wrong
This evening I attended a classic BBL basketball match at the RaiderDome between Plymouth Raiders and Guildford Heat. An unbelievable game that ebbed and flowed with Raiders eventually running out winners 116-106.
But it shouldn't have been that way as at the start of the final quarter it looked as though Raiders were about to capitulate with sloppy mistake after sloppy mistake. But no. They re-grouped with some well called Time Outs from Coach Gavin Love and returned to the court re-energised and re-focused.
Not sure what Love said, but it worked a treat. Not bad from the Rookie coach in his first season, who is, I am sure, motivated in proving wrong those who doubted his controversial appointment.
This result is a huge psychological boost for Raiders who now climb the league table and are now a respectable 5-5, after a shocking 0-3 start to the season. Raiders will go into their next game absolutely buzzing,
Hats off too to Raiders Cody Toppert who came off the bench to score a massive 41 points. A point to prove too perhaps?
Gavin Wilson
Senior Sports Performance Coach
But it shouldn't have been that way as at the start of the final quarter it looked as though Raiders were about to capitulate with sloppy mistake after sloppy mistake. But no. They re-grouped with some well called Time Outs from Coach Gavin Love and returned to the court re-energised and re-focused.
Not sure what Love said, but it worked a treat. Not bad from the Rookie coach in his first season, who is, I am sure, motivated in proving wrong those who doubted his controversial appointment.
This result is a huge psychological boost for Raiders who now climb the league table and are now a respectable 5-5, after a shocking 0-3 start to the season. Raiders will go into their next game absolutely buzzing,
Hats off too to Raiders Cody Toppert who came off the bench to score a massive 41 points. A point to prove too perhaps?
Gavin Wilson
Senior Sports Performance Coach
Sport Psychology - Ali Knew The Secret
"Champions aren't made in the gyms. Champions are made from something that they have deep inside them - a desire, a dream, a vision" - Muhammad Ali
Gavin Wilson
Senior Sports Performance Coach
Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone 4
Gavin Wilson
Senior Sports Performance Coach
Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone 4
Sport Psychology - Be AWESOMER
See someone that you think is better than you at your chosen sport? Maybe faster, more agile, more determined, more successful? Maybe they give off an aura of invincibility, walk with a swagger, look unbeatable.
Well, let them act as you benchmark. Seek to improve yourself so much that you are better than them. Learn from them, then reel them in - before overtaking them.
After this, get a new benchmark - and repeat. Then slowly and surely, you are becoming the best that you can possibly be. Better than the rest. Better than the best.
They maybe AWESOME, but you are AWESOMER!!
Gavin Wilson
Senior Sports Performance Coach
Football Psychology - Dead Men Walking
Who would be a football manager? In a season that has already seen competent managers such as Chris Hughton and Sam Allardyce be dismissed; what hope is there for Avram Grant, Mark Hughes, Carlo Ancelloti and Roy Hodgdon?
All Dead Men Walking for sure. Or are they?
My advice to them, stay focused, avoid the papers, display confidence, talk positively and you will stand a far greater chance of keeping your jobs.
Good luck guys.
Gavin Wilson
Senior Sports Performance Coach
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone 4
All Dead Men Walking for sure. Or are they?
My advice to them, stay focused, avoid the papers, display confidence, talk positively and you will stand a far greater chance of keeping your jobs.
Good luck guys.
Gavin Wilson
Senior Sports Performance Coach
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone 4
Football Psychology - It's Not Over Until It's Over
So unusually for Manchester United, it is them that suffer from a late, late goal at Birmingham City last night. Okay, there was a push, a handball and a possible off side - but a goal is a goal, whenever it is scored.
The lesson here is that United weren't troubled all game, until that late goal. They got complacent, thought the game was won and switched off. Big mistake. Play to the whistle and always, always maintain your focus.
Gavin Wilson
Senior Sports Performance Coach
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone 4
The lesson here is that United weren't troubled all game, until that late goal. They got complacent, thought the game was won and switched off. Big mistake. Play to the whistle and always, always maintain your focus.
Gavin Wilson
Senior Sports Performance Coach
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone 4
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