|
|
Coach?
Are all these drills really necessary ?
Not long ago I was visiting with the Ghanaian National Soccer coach
from Amsterdam at their national training center. Upon learning
that I was a sport psychology consultant he immediately began to
express his frustration at the teams unwillingness to use "drills"
and typical conditioning programs such as wind sprints during practices.
He reported that all they wanted to do was "play" soccer.
He admitted that the level of "play" during practice sessions
was of the highest intensity. Most athletes literally would
play to exhaustion. Upon questioning, the Coach indicated
that they would listen to his input regarding positioning and strategies,
but drills..."they are not helping us".
The paradox in Western society is that early in childhood we teach
children to "play"...to have fun...to not worry about
the score...to focus on fundamentals, but not too much least participants
not enjoy the experience. Perhaps one of the most poignant experiences
illustrating this point was when I returned to my apartment after
working on my dissertation all day to find my 12 year old son "playing"
touch football with probably 15 other 6-10 year olds. Being
the oldest he, of course, was playing quarterback for both teams.
Excitedly I jogged over to the sideline (the tree and the bushes)
hoping to be recognized and invited to "play". Not
being immediately recognized I yelled, "what's the score you
guys?". To my embarrassment, the game came to an immediate
halt and all 10,000 eyes were upon me... "Opps",
I thought. The silent staring went on for hours (6 seconds),
then my son said with total disdain......."Dad!... were just
playing...."
Later, during early adolescents and post pubescence, participants
(now referred to as athletes) are encouraged to lay aside the "play",
the joy, and focus on the "work", outcome, preparation,
execution, techniques. The result? Often high anxiety,
lowered confidence levels, and frustrations for both coaches and
athletes. Yet at the highest level of athletics, such as world class
and professional athletes, coaches often encourage participants
to "just play your game", "have some fun".
The latest thinking by some Western coaches is that maybe playing
more and drilling less might have some merit. The Ghanaian
soccer team (under 18s) have consistently been one of the top teams
in the world. We all know of great practicers, but when it
comes to competition......well they're good during practice.
How many would be golfers are great on the range, but put the money
down and give them a 198 yard shot out of a sand trap over water
to win the PGA Championship......... well..........
they are good on the range.
Maybe we should "play" more and drill less.
Robert McGowan
Coaching & Sports Section Editor
|
NCAA
CHAMPS/Life Skills
The NCAA life skills program
and life skill programs throughout the NCAA family provides student-athletes
with information and training on surviving in the world outside of
athletics |
|
 |
|
Playing Sports
People hate to compete against
those who "play" sports, because they play without regard
to the importance of the outcome. They are free to risk.
Competitors have much to lose, identity, worth, status. Those
who play sports are testing their skills to their max. Those
who compete compare themselves to others and place worth or value
based on outcome or comparison. Those who play enjoy the challenge
and associating with other "players". Those
who "play" sports enjoy the challenge of being behind.
Many athletes fear losing and dread being behind. Those who
play never quit competing. Competitors rarely play
and "quit", concede, or quit often.
|
| |
Preventing
Choking
by Robert Nideffer
"To prevent choking, you have to keep this negative feedback
loop from getting started in the first place."
|
| |
The
Relationship Between Anxiety and Performance: A Cognitive-Behavioral
Perspective
by Miguel Humara, M.A.
"The ability to cope with pressure and
anxiety is an integral part of sports"
|
| |
This fourth issue of Coaching Science Abstracts reviews
articles concerned with positive mental activity. It is not possible
to talk on this general topic under one separate heading. This issue
has been divided into five sections.
|
| |
Mental
Toughness Questionnaire
Dr. Alan Goldberg
Just how mentally
tough are you? Take a few moments to fill out this questionnaire that
covers several component skills of mental toughness. When you're finished,
check your answers in the evaluation section that follows to determine
your mental strengths and weaknesses .
|
| |
Stress
in Youth Sports
By Richard Stratton
In many circles, concern about stress placed on youth sport participants
seems to be the most frequent topic of discussion when youth sports
is mentioned.
|
Stress
Prevention, Stress Reduction
As was described in the Feature article in this issue, youth sports
participation can produce eustress (pleasurable stress) and distress
(potentially harmful stress). One of the most difficult things for
coaches to recognize is when their athletes pass from eustress into
distress. Unfortunately, by the time coaches realize the athlete is
experiencing distress, it has probably already negatively effected
the athlete's performance. In fact, it is typically the poor performance
that tells us when the athlete is distressed. Although it is not too
late to help the athlete, coaches would prefer to help the athlete
earlier so they do not reach this point. What do you need to know
in order to prevent or at least reduce performance damaging levels
of distress? You need to understand what actually causes stress. Stress
is caused by the perception that one does not have adequate capability
to respond to the situation they are facing. Athlete evaluate their
skill levels and how much effort they are willing to exert and compare
that to the difficulty of the task they face and the expectations
they and others place on them about their performance. Although you,
as the coach cannot control all of the factors in this equation, you
can deal with several of them. Skill level is factor you can do the
most about. Learning new skills and improving old skills should be
a priority in your team practices. Several youth sport research projects
have asked children what worries them the most when they participate
in youth sports. The top two responses consistently are "Not
playing well" and "Making a Mistake". This tells us
that children are most concerned about their own performance. By focusing
on skill learning and execution, you can go a long way towards giving
the children the confidence they need to perform with less distress
in competition.
Adults (the coaches and parents) are often the target of the "finger
pointers" when it comes to trying to identify sources of stress
in youth sports. The athletes tell us that it is teammates who are
the biggest source of stress, other than the stress athletes place
on themselves. Peer pressure is a powerful component of youth sports.
As the coach you can use this to build a positive team environment,
or, you can let it get out of control and have it destroy team effort.
Of course, coaches can be a major source of distress. How do you
respond when one of your athletes makes a mistake? Do you offer
encouragement? Do you remind them of how to do the skill properly?
Or, do you yell at them, punish them, or make fun of them? If you
do any of these last three, you are likely producing distress. You
can be part of the stress problem, or you can be part of the solution.
Be part of the solution
by Richard Stratton
|
|
|
|
"I never predict anything, and I never will."
- PAUL GASCOIGNE
"All that remains is for a few dots and commas to be crossed"
- MITCHELL THOMAS
"I spent four indifferent years at Goodison, but they were
great years."
- MARTIN HODGE
Credit card application form question : "What is your position
at the company?"
-JASON MCATEER'S (self-confirmed) response
: "Right back."
"We threw our dice into the ring and turned up trumps."
- BRUCE RIOCH
- "Don't be so humble - you are not that great."
- GOLDA MEIR (1898-1978) to a visiting diplomat
|
The Far
Side of Failure
by David Wolfe
On the far side of failure,
Beyond the path of rejection
Far past the ghosts
Of doubt and dejection.
Just a bit farther
Than lifes toughest question.
Over the stream running,
After each lost election.
Farther along
Than the extra mile.
Floating further
Than the lonely isle.
Beyond the sign:
"The buck stops here."
Over pools reflecting --
The faces of fear.
Over chasms deep
Where things seem worst,
Through hardened deserts,
Overcome by thirst.
Even surpassing
The road traveled less
Lies the hidden valley
Of massive success. |
| If you have ideas, comments, letters to share, or questions
about particular topics, please email one of the following Coaching
& Sports Section Editors: |
|
