Mental Edge

Newsletter Issue May 2010

Mind Strength. Become Exceptional.

The Truth About Choking

Shaun Goodsell, MA

President and CEO of Mental Edge

Is all choking created equally? When an athlete is not able to find the internal resources under pressure to be their best is it always for the same reason? Many would say it is because they choked, lacked confidence, or were mentally lacking focus. The problem with all these labels is they are over used clichés that lack the clarity that could potentially lead to a break through for the athlete or one looking to improve their performance.

I recently came across an article by Malcolm Gladwell, an expert thought leader in the world of psychology, that described what often happens under pressure for athletes that leads them to "fall apart", choke and panic. He started by talking about how, in the beginning, athletes are extremely deliberate and thoughtful about learning skills. Most invest a tremendous amount of time and energy to acquire mastery in relevant skills. The beginning is marked by a focus on deliberate and repetitive practice. The learning that is occurring during this phase is known as "Explicit " learning. As this learning takes root, another type of learning occurs that allows the athlete to spend less mental energy in detailed deliberate thought. This learning becomes more unconscious and there is more focus placed on the finer points of the task such as touch and timing. This is known as "Implicit " learning. Athletes often perform their best when implicit learning has taken root and they are relying on instinct, creativity and flow to guide their performance.

Interestingly enough as pressure begins to mount some athletes become more inwardly thoughtful and consequently become more focused on what they were thinking when they were first learning the game. This results in a more deliberate internal focus that appears to turn a creative approach into a self-focused, fear-of-failure approach. The noticeable change is a more fearful, tentative, and robotic approach that mirrors that of a beginner.

Contrast this with when an athlete starts to panic. Panic is a heightened state of anxiety that often leaves the athlete with no awareness of quality thought at all, resulting in missing some of the most basic aspects of the game. Some of these are so troubling because they may have done them repetitively in the past. So, on one hand when someone "OVERTHINKS" during a performance they regress back to when they were a beginner because of increased internally focused thinking. When an athlete is panicked they lack any connection to thought all together. Many athletes deal with the challenges associated with both conditions.

The skills needed to overcome these challenges are different and simply telling them to focus, work harder, or be more confident not only does not help, but also, in some cases, actually makes the challenge worse. If you are someone dealing with either of these two challenges let us help you overcome them and realize elevated performance like never experienced before. Simply email us to get started!

Shaun

Parents, Listen Up!

Justin Johnson, Performance Coach

This past year I've had the great opportunity to meet with nearly 300 young people across the state and discuss with them their most difficult moments in life. Almost every kid responded with insightful, emotional and vulnerable stories that left their coaches and me beside ourselves. These meetings have given me tremendous insight into the lives of kids ranging from 11-year-old girls to 24-year-old men. It has shown me the perspective young people have about hard times and how they manage them. This past week while sitting in one of these meetings a thought struck me, "somehow parents should know what impacts their kids". Now I'm not pretending that this article is some revelation into the mind of young people, but rather a reminder of how fragile and vulnerable the minds of our children truly are. And in spite of their repeated attempts to grow up quickly, they need your guidance and support more than ever. Below is a list of the most common themes that have surfaced from those conversations; some you may already know...some may surprise you.

They hear the conversations you try to hide from them.

They are truly scared and confused at your decision to smoke or chew tobacco.

Bullying is more prevalent then you may think, and it generates overwhelming stress.

Keeping them in the dark about family illnesses or deaths makes it hard for them to deal with it and/or move on.

For parents who travel or live separate, they miss you...make time for them.

When struggling with schoolwork or specific skills like reading, they feel so much shame. They need your encouragement.

Many young girls are victims to verbal attacks and social banishment. Always ask who their friends are at school and how their relationships are.

The loss of a pet is often their first experience with death. Teach them how to mourn.

The pressure to use illegal substances is just as real and prevalent as the commercials warn you about.

Many are confused about what a healthy friendship looks like: guide them.

Depression in the family is common and should be addressed by and with everyone's support.

They are incredibly resilient.

If you are interested in learning more about your child or how you can help them through any of these moments please check out our 90-day Parent challenge by clicking here or email us today.

Justin

The Determining Factor

Brady Greco, Performance Coach

There is one element in an athlete's life that will lead to success. This element controls the outcome of your relationships, your schooling, your athletic experience and every other part of your daily life.   Many athletes who have excellent skills and talents will not succeed if they cannot master this element. However, athlete's who have questionable skills and talents will succeed if they are able to master this element. This element WILL be the determining factor for your success on and off the playing field, court, or arena. This element is a POSITIVE ATTITUDE.

Sports are becoming more and more competitive, and with every level you climb, the tougher and tougher it becomes to succeed. There are many ups and downs that come along with participating in sports (especially at higher levels). Athletes experience peaks and valleys throughout the course of their season, nevertheless they MUST remember the only thing they have control over is their ATTITUDE. Instead of falling victim to being a product of immediate circumstance, begin to concentrate and focus on your long-term goals and aspirations. Use something negative that happened to you as motivation or as a learning lesson so you do not have to experience the same thing over and over again.

Many times as an athlete, you can fall into a rut or slump.   There is no denying the fact that being in situations like this can weigh heavily on your mind. However, it is vital to understand that, whatever you give mental energy to grows! Therefore, don't give mental energy to the negative aspects in your game. It's a lot easier said than done, but by focusing your mental energy into positive areas in your game, you will begin to crawl your way out of the slump.

Right NOW is the time to begin building your positive attitude. It is of great importance that you believe in yourself before any coach, parent, or player believes in you. The positive attitude you portray when faced with difficult times will allow you to get through any struggles and move you closer to your goals.   When you believe, you can achieve!

Brady