Increasing Awareness for Sport Performance Chapter 10 Increasing Awareness for Sport Performance Ken Ravizza and Angela Fifer Copyright © 2015 McGraw-Hill Education. All rights reserved. No reproduction or distribution without the prior written consent of McGraw-Hill Education.

What Is Awareness? The first step to gaining control of any pressure situation Athletes must be taught this skill Check in on arousal level, emotional state, thought processes, and focus AND adjust them according to the situation The athlete’s challenge is to focus on basic skills even when his or her physiology may increase significantly

Importance of Awareness Basis of most physical skill development and the process of skill execution Lack of awareness is almost always the result of an excessive end result focus

Steps in Awareness Process Athlete becomes aware of ideal performance state and the routine behaviors they are already using to achieve this state Recognize when no longer in the ideal state Awareness skills  Earlier recognition Implement appropriate interventions to get back into ideal performance state

The R’s Athletes learn there is a relationship between the things they do to maximize performance Emphasizes that they have control over their own reactions, attitudes, and behaviors Learn to let go of the things outside of their control Responsibility Recognize Release Regroup Refocusing Ready Respond

The R’s

Training Awareness Exercises Have athlete write a scouting report on his/her strengths and weaknesses What is the opponent saying about them? What would they like the opponent to say about them? Establish awareness routines E.g., set two goals for practice when putting on shoes and then evaluate how well the goals were addressed when taking shoes off

Training Awareness Exercises Learning the basics Requires totally focusing attention on the task Incorporate awareness training with physical skills training and warm ups Need progression of skills vs. “All-or- None Syndrome” 1-5 evaluative feedback Play the “Edge of Peak Performance” Blindfolded run Assess performance through psychological questionnaires and physiological monitoring

Training Awareness Exercises (cont.) Increase awareness of arousal effects and manage as needed Monitor and alter arousal via traffic light analogy Periodically monitor arousal level Green light = optimal, continue with what doing Yellow light = possible caution, observe more carefully Red light = “stop”, change either  or  Goal is to catch when changing from green to yellow vs. when already red Keep a sport journal

Training Awareness Exercises (cont.) Use imagery to relive positive past performances Contrast peak performance with poorer performance Conduct group discussions Assess strengths and weaknesses Ask questions about arousal and confidence levels, stressors, etc.