Why do some athletes consistently excel when the game is on the line or when the “pressures” of competition seem to be tougher, while under the same conditions, others perform inconsistently or are sometimes at their worst? ? Why do so many athletes often perform better in practice than in competition? And what is the one thing in sports that most often separates the winner from second place? For so many athletes, the answer to these questions is no mystery: the difference lies in the incredible 3 1/2 pounds of electrical energy, power, and potential between our ears—our mind. The goal of almost all mental training exercises and peak performance skills is to strengthen and improve composition, concentration, and confidence. These three ‘C’s of peak performance are paramount in their influence on sports related performance. Look for the root of almost every positive or negative sport performance experience and you will find one or more of these variables. But there is another ‘C’ of peak performance that is just as important: our Commitment or Drive. The great Bill Russell, one of the greatest winners in all of sports history, winning 11 NBA championships in 13 years, once said that “the heart of a champion has to do with the depth of our commitment.”
Of all the accolades and superlatives sportswriters used to describe Miami’s first NBA championship, most have focused on Dwayne Wade’s incredible will to win, drive and commitment throughout the series. It is certainly commendable. His total of 157 points over the last 4 games, including his Finals MVP with 36 points, 5 assists, 4 steals, 3 blocks, and his championship-winning performance make him worthy. However, when we examine Dwayne’s career a bit more closely, we find that the real reason behind Miami’s first NBA championship has much to do with his focus and commitment to his career rather than the heroism of his final season. the nba. In just 3 short years, Dwayne has increased his career scoring average from 16.1 to 27.2 pts. per game. His FT% has increased from 74.7% to 78.3%, his FG% from 46.5% to 49.5%, his steals from 1.4 to 2.0 per game, and his rebounds from 4, 1 to 5.7 per game, all with a small increase in minutes per game. game played These kinds of results and improvements are not the result of trips to the mall, fancy dinners, and lazy afternoons playing X-Box. These kinds of improvements are the result of blood, sweat, and tears in empty gyms with a serious commitment to athletic excellence and continuous improvement. As reporters, fans, NBA general managers and coaches discuss the strategy, chemistry and development of their draft pick, it is this level of commitment that will ultimately determine the total impact each newly drafted player will have on the game. The 2006 NBA Draft will take on their teams. and the league.
Only gaining Commitment and Motivation will bring out the best in any athlete
Without a doubt, your level of commitment, often called motivation or drive, is the #1 predictor of how far you will take your sport: from elementary school to state, national and world championships, Olympic gold or the Hall of Fame. Motivation predicts how far you will go to improve and excel, both physically (skills and athletics) and mentally (mind training skills). You could be the world’s most skilled athlete, with the most athletically gifted, possessing the most natural Composition, Focus and Peak Performance Confidence; and yet, without motivation, all this means nothing. Talent would be wasted. If you have no desire to achieve excellence in your sport, you will never do it, it’s as simple as that. The motivation arises from a deep love and passion for the sport he practices and a deep competitive drive. Passion is something that can develop over time or it may have always been there: from the first moment you picked up the ball and the first time you stepped foot on that court… there was a feeling that something deep inside of you was drawing near. live. For some athletes, it is purely the thrill of the competition that makes them feel alive.
But any discussion of motivation levels during the game must always involve two levels of accountability: one level for coaches and one level for athletes. Some coaches are world renowned for their ability to deliver the ultimate “pregame talk” and enjoy watching their teams block opponents with four quarters of impressive intensity. However, the problem many coaches face is consistency. That same set of ‘magic words’ that worked so well for one game often won’t work for another, and every coach has shrugged at times during an extremely important game while asking, “where in the world is the intensity? I thought we prepared so well!” This is where athletes must take some responsibility.
Maintaining commitment levels
The following 3 ‘quick’ tips will help any coach or athlete maintain a fierce level of intensity and a high level of motivation, regardless of whether the setting is a 6am practice or the biggest game of the year.
1. Inspire the athlete with a vision:
The great essayist Jean La Fontaine wrote “whenever the heart is captured, impossibilities vanish”, and in few arenas is this more true than in the athletic arena. Athletes want to know and need to know exactly what they should be aiming for. As a coach, don’t just ask the athlete to lead – tell them exactly how you want them to lead (on the court? off the court? vocally? with actions? teaching? guiding? inspiring others? .. ..Be specific!). General and non-specific direction leads to ‘general and non-specific’ results. If you’re an athlete, don’t just talk about the year-end championship… get inspired and challenge yourself with very specific expectations and goals that relate to the very specific role you’ll play in the championship campaign. In what way will he contribute offensively (what particular skills will he use to contribute?). What about the defense? What is your action plan to develop these specific skills?
2. Set more ‘Performance’ based goals than ‘Results’ based goals:
Performance-based goals only relate to controllable vs. results-based goals that relate to actual statistics. They are not always fully controllable. For example, if an athlete sets a goal to shoot 50% from 3 points. Line up in the next game, or keeping a high-scoring opponent in single digits for the game, these factors can sometimes be affected by great defensive or offensive performance from an opponent. Failure to meet statistical goals can be demoralizing and can add emotional pressure to a playoff game or series. This is not to say that ‘keeping score’ and setting measurable goals are bad things. On the contrary; Sometimes this type of goal setting and tracking is absolutely essential. However, most objectives should be related to ‘performance’ in such a way that they are based more on fully controllable elements, i.e. intensity of defensive effort, or quality of ‘look’ or concentration than the athlete hit the hoop before each shot. . Focusing on the variables that are responsible for 3pt. the shot that actually goes in (as opposed to the result of the actual shot itself), can often be much more productive while also relieving any additional stat-related “pressure”.
3. Inject more fun into practice and games without sacrificing intensity:
As is often said of many athletes and their relationship with their coach… “if they fear you in your presence, they will hate you in your absence”. No player gave 100% intensity in every game of the season to a manager they hated. Coaches and players must find creative ways to inject some fun into a practice or game. Creativity and fun in practice also have an amazing way of counteracting pressure. Pressure begins and ends in the mind of any athlete, and the physiological reaction to pressure felt by the body through muscle tension, short/shallow breathing patterns, and general nervousness is nothing more than the brain affecting the body. . Fun can counteract stress and the body’s physical reaction to stress in remarkable ways.
