Results from the EmWave case study of nine U.S.T.A. League players is now available to read.
www.sportshealthcounseling.com click on Projects and Results from the front page.
Till next time!
Think good thoughts.
Friday, August 3, 2007
Tuesday, June 19, 2007
EmWave Case Study
"The heart is a primary generator of rhythmic patterns in the human body and possesses a more extensive communication system with the brain than do other major organs. In addition the heart plays a particularly important role in the generation of emotion. ...The research team at the Institute of HeartMath has shown that techniques which combine intentional heart focus with the generation of sustained positive feelings lead to a beneficial mode of physiological function they have termed psycho-physiological coherence." Quantumintech
Positive feelings and smooth, even heart rhythms facilitate or improve the brains ability to process information; this is called cortical facilitation. When the brain and heart work harmoniously an athletes physical reflexes are faster and he/she will be able to focus, think and make clear decisions and enable muscular coordination. Players still need to have the skills, abilities and talent to perform the task. If your technique is inefficient you will still need to develop this area to improve performance. (Sorry no miracles :-).....
EmWave Case Study: Nine U.S.T.A. League tennis players. Nine EmWaves ( a portable biofeedback devise)....instructions on how to use the EmWave and one month documenting their use (time and frequency) to explore if using the EmWave at least five times a week, for at least five minutes per time would aid in reducing cognitive anxiety, somatic anxiety, improve players self-confidence and enjoyment of competition. Levels of anxiety and self-confidence were measured by having the players complete the "Competitive State Anxiety Inventory" (slightly modified) as a pre-test. The group took the same test again after a month of using the device.....
The case study findings were significant....for a detailed description of this case study check http://www.sportshealthcounseling.com/
under "Projects and Results." Complete details of the study will be posted by the end of July.
Positive feelings and smooth, even heart rhythms facilitate or improve the brains ability to process information; this is called cortical facilitation. When the brain and heart work harmoniously an athletes physical reflexes are faster and he/she will be able to focus, think and make clear decisions and enable muscular coordination. Players still need to have the skills, abilities and talent to perform the task. If your technique is inefficient you will still need to develop this area to improve performance. (Sorry no miracles :-).....
EmWave Case Study: Nine U.S.T.A. League tennis players. Nine EmWaves ( a portable biofeedback devise)....instructions on how to use the EmWave and one month documenting their use (time and frequency) to explore if using the EmWave at least five times a week, for at least five minutes per time would aid in reducing cognitive anxiety, somatic anxiety, improve players self-confidence and enjoyment of competition. Levels of anxiety and self-confidence were measured by having the players complete the "Competitive State Anxiety Inventory" (slightly modified) as a pre-test. The group took the same test again after a month of using the device.....
The case study findings were significant....for a detailed description of this case study check http://www.sportshealthcounseling.com/
under "Projects and Results." Complete details of the study will be posted by the end of July.
Tuesday, May 8, 2007
Mental Preparation for Competition
What is the Inverted-U Hypothesis? As an athlete what is helpful to know about this state of arousal and how it can help or hinder your performance? Do all sports require the same states of emotional and physical arousal?
The Inverted-U Hypothesis is a point of reference to explain the relationship between arousal states and performance. Underarousal typically exhibits itself in not being psyched up enough to meet the demands of the event. The athlete reports feeling sluggish, can't find their rhythm on the playing field.
As arousal level increases typically so does performance - up to a point. Too much energy causes rhythm and mechancis of movement to be off, a racing mind creates impaired decision making. Optimal arousal will vary for each individual. Optimal performance is a combination of great mental and physical preparation an intermediate level of arousal on game day. Each sport has requirements for optimal performance.
A race car driver must make moment by moment decisions and adjustments while racing at speeds of 180 plus miles and hour with other cars on all sides. A confused mental state due to anxiety can be fatal.
A football player that is underaroused and slow off the mark or running to his target will get beat time after time by their opponents. Overarousal can result in dropped catches by not watching the ball into their hands or running before the ball is under control.
A tennis player who gets off to a sluggish start or is too wound up and makes early errors has time to make a comeback if he/she doesn't get too far behind in the match. But this takes energy away from the player which can affect him/her towards the end of the tournament.
Do you know your optimal arousal state for your sport?
The Inverted-U Hypothesis is a point of reference to explain the relationship between arousal states and performance. Underarousal typically exhibits itself in not being psyched up enough to meet the demands of the event. The athlete reports feeling sluggish, can't find their rhythm on the playing field.
As arousal level increases typically so does performance - up to a point. Too much energy causes rhythm and mechancis of movement to be off, a racing mind creates impaired decision making. Optimal arousal will vary for each individual. Optimal performance is a combination of great mental and physical preparation an intermediate level of arousal on game day. Each sport has requirements for optimal performance.
A race car driver must make moment by moment decisions and adjustments while racing at speeds of 180 plus miles and hour with other cars on all sides. A confused mental state due to anxiety can be fatal.
A football player that is underaroused and slow off the mark or running to his target will get beat time after time by their opponents. Overarousal can result in dropped catches by not watching the ball into their hands or running before the ball is under control.
A tennis player who gets off to a sluggish start or is too wound up and makes early errors has time to make a comeback if he/she doesn't get too far behind in the match. But this takes energy away from the player which can affect him/her towards the end of the tournament.
Do you know your optimal arousal state for your sport?
Tuesday, March 20, 2007
Chaos Breakthrough and the Space Between
Athletically moving into a higher level of competition or trying to integrate a new skill can create and impasse for players. For kids moving into the next level and playing with opponents with more advanced skill levels presents an exciting opportunity to improve. The player that was a stand out in high school now plays for a college team and needs to establish him/herself as a solid performer.
Some athletes become stuck at this stage. Breakthrough or being able to compete effectively at the next level may occur by becoming physically stronger, faster, increasing endurance. Mentally, the player needs to know, believe and perform the skills they are capable of performing regardless if they are competing against the top player or a player from the middle of the rankings. By this time player need to have skill in controlling their emotional energy.
During this transition some players become stuck and want to remain with their "winning style."Being steady in the 16's won't be enough of a weapon to compete against player's with bigger and more varied shot selections. Shifting into a different style of play can feel chaotic. Players will lose some matches as they shift into a new style of play. Losing can feel chaotic to players who are used to being in the final 4 most tournaments.
It takes time to adjust to new levels of competition. What was once familiar territory has shifted. The new level introduces new players who present a different set of skills to problem solve. Eventually when the player keeps working and developing he/she reaches a breakthrough point. The big match that is finally won. The shift to knowing that they have developed the skills necessary to compete and succeed against the bigger players.
The space between is the time it takes to move from the decision to change, knowing what to change and how to accomplish it, doing the work and finally achieving the shift. The space between is the time where players who stay positive, set goals, work towards their goals, have great support and the talent to move onto the next level level do their most interesting and poignant self development.
Some athletes become stuck at this stage. Breakthrough or being able to compete effectively at the next level may occur by becoming physically stronger, faster, increasing endurance. Mentally, the player needs to know, believe and perform the skills they are capable of performing regardless if they are competing against the top player or a player from the middle of the rankings. By this time player need to have skill in controlling their emotional energy.
During this transition some players become stuck and want to remain with their "winning style."Being steady in the 16's won't be enough of a weapon to compete against player's with bigger and more varied shot selections. Shifting into a different style of play can feel chaotic. Players will lose some matches as they shift into a new style of play. Losing can feel chaotic to players who are used to being in the final 4 most tournaments.
It takes time to adjust to new levels of competition. What was once familiar territory has shifted. The new level introduces new players who present a different set of skills to problem solve. Eventually when the player keeps working and developing he/she reaches a breakthrough point. The big match that is finally won. The shift to knowing that they have developed the skills necessary to compete and succeed against the bigger players.
The space between is the time it takes to move from the decision to change, knowing what to change and how to accomplish it, doing the work and finally achieving the shift. The space between is the time where players who stay positive, set goals, work towards their goals, have great support and the talent to move onto the next level level do their most interesting and poignant self development.
Wednesday, February 28, 2007
Emotional Strength
"Depending on the circumstances, you should be as hard as a diamond, flexible as a willow, smooth-flowing like water or as empty as space." Morikei Ueshiba
The word emotion is from a latin word meaning "to set in motion." Sport is an acitivity that sets the body, and mind in motion. How athletes learn to direct that motion constructively is the difference between wasted energy and focused, useful energy. Sport educator, Jim Loehr
defines four primary indicators of emotional toughness for sport and/or business.
Emotional flexibility: the ability for openness, expansiveness, and nondefensiveness in the face of stress or unfamiliar situations.
Emotional responsiveness: Under stress of the athletic battle the ability to remain fully connected and engaged with the situation. Problem solving skills and creativity are helpful tools.
Emotional strength: In challenging situations emotional toughness is the ability to resist and exert great positive emotional force. It's easy to fall into the pit of doubt and attitude of fruitlessness when under great pressure.
Emotional Resiliency: The ability to come back after a setback, loss or disappointment.
A bit off the subject of sports but with all the key elements of the four indicators of emotional toughness and a great read is, "Walt Disney - The Triumph of The American Imagination."
Now for fun and practice:
Emotional responsiveness most closely relates to:
a) Withdrawing from a challenge because it requires too much thought.
b) Staying emotionally connected and involved.
c) The ability to be open, thoughtful and non defensive during times of turbulence.
Emotional Flexibility most closely relates to:
a) A kindness and thoughtfulness towards your opponents.
b) Resisting the urge to quit when the outcome looks bleak.
c) The quality of openness, expansiveness and nondefensiveness during adversity.
Emotional Strength most closely relates to:
a) Working out in the gym even when you don't feel like it.
b)The ability to focus on the activity long enough to get the job done successfully.
c) The ability to visualize lifting heavy objects.
Emotional Resiliency most closely relates to:
a) The ability to distract oneself from the thought of losing.
b) A comic strip character in "The Incredibles."
c) The ability to bounce back from setbacks, losses and emotional hits quickly and easily.
The word emotion is from a latin word meaning "to set in motion." Sport is an acitivity that sets the body, and mind in motion. How athletes learn to direct that motion constructively is the difference between wasted energy and focused, useful energy. Sport educator, Jim Loehr
defines four primary indicators of emotional toughness for sport and/or business.
Emotional flexibility: the ability for openness, expansiveness, and nondefensiveness in the face of stress or unfamiliar situations.
Emotional responsiveness: Under stress of the athletic battle the ability to remain fully connected and engaged with the situation. Problem solving skills and creativity are helpful tools.
Emotional strength: In challenging situations emotional toughness is the ability to resist and exert great positive emotional force. It's easy to fall into the pit of doubt and attitude of fruitlessness when under great pressure.
Emotional Resiliency: The ability to come back after a setback, loss or disappointment.
A bit off the subject of sports but with all the key elements of the four indicators of emotional toughness and a great read is, "Walt Disney - The Triumph of The American Imagination."
Now for fun and practice:
Emotional responsiveness most closely relates to:
a) Withdrawing from a challenge because it requires too much thought.
b) Staying emotionally connected and involved.
c) The ability to be open, thoughtful and non defensive during times of turbulence.
Emotional Flexibility most closely relates to:
a) A kindness and thoughtfulness towards your opponents.
b) Resisting the urge to quit when the outcome looks bleak.
c) The quality of openness, expansiveness and nondefensiveness during adversity.
Emotional Strength most closely relates to:
a) Working out in the gym even when you don't feel like it.
b)The ability to focus on the activity long enough to get the job done successfully.
c) The ability to visualize lifting heavy objects.
Emotional Resiliency most closely relates to:
a) The ability to distract oneself from the thought of losing.
b) A comic strip character in "The Incredibles."
c) The ability to bounce back from setbacks, losses and emotional hits quickly and easily.
Monday, February 12, 2007
Mindfulness
Each athlete, coach, parent typically say things to themselves or believe certain things about what might happen about a sporting event. The thoughts may promote worry, anxiety, or free
them from worry, tension, anxiety. Thoughts, behaviors are the foundation of confidence or the decay of confidence. What sets up emotional reaction to an event is what a person or persons say about or perceive as the "threat" of an event. It takes some skill to let go of the "noise" and focus on preparing and participating fully in the event itself without judgement of the outcome.
Opportunities for mental distractions are bountiful. Typical worries begin as a one sentence fuse and often build into a mountain of "what ifs." The key is to be aware of the thoughts without being pulled into the whirl pool of them.
them from worry, tension, anxiety. Thoughts, behaviors are the foundation of confidence or the decay of confidence. What sets up emotional reaction to an event is what a person or persons say about or perceive as the "threat" of an event. It takes some skill to let go of the "noise" and focus on preparing and participating fully in the event itself without judgement of the outcome.
Opportunities for mental distractions are bountiful. Typical worries begin as a one sentence fuse and often build into a mountain of "what ifs." The key is to be aware of the thoughts without being pulled into the whirl pool of them.
Thursday, January 25, 2007
Youthful Learning
Participation in competitive sport is an important opportunity to grasp the nuances of how the sport is played and what works best against a variety of opponents style in games and matches. Crippling errors in developing junior athletic skills are:
a) Either the coach, player or parent interprets mistakes, errors, and experimentation that are a natural part of the learning curve process as failures.
b) Practice is one arena, being on the playing field, court, arena at game time and tested mentally, physically, technically, presents an emotional shift that time and experience enhances.
c) The player becomes so programmed that he/she doesn't have an opportunity to develop a unique style thus differentiating him/herself from other players.
d) Winning becomes so seemly vital at an early age that the results of competitive pressure to win becomes the standard not learning, growth and enjoyment of the activity. Is it a surprise that the burn-out rate for junior athletes is extraordinarily high?
Health: junior athletes that set their personal goals for performance and having those goals
celebrated by coaches and parents will be inclined to have more energy, joy in playing.
a) Either the coach, player or parent interprets mistakes, errors, and experimentation that are a natural part of the learning curve process as failures.
b) Practice is one arena, being on the playing field, court, arena at game time and tested mentally, physically, technically, presents an emotional shift that time and experience enhances.
c) The player becomes so programmed that he/she doesn't have an opportunity to develop a unique style thus differentiating him/herself from other players.
d) Winning becomes so seemly vital at an early age that the results of competitive pressure to win becomes the standard not learning, growth and enjoyment of the activity. Is it a surprise that the burn-out rate for junior athletes is extraordinarily high?
Health: junior athletes that set their personal goals for performance and having those goals
celebrated by coaches and parents will be inclined to have more energy, joy in playing.
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