I decided to write about "Fear of Failure" and how to "Overcome Fear" as it is something that all my athletes have had to face on their way to becoming a CHAMPION. Both Rocky and Paola had to face it at the 2011 US Open Championships as well as the 2011 Pan American Championships...both times they made it to the finals playing against their rivals. (more…)
One must train the mind for "Championship Racquetball." In Sports Psychology we talk about an athlete having two brains...one in your head and one in your "gut." You have the Learning Brain (head) and the Sports Brain (gut). 1. Learning Brain - this is the brain in your head where you are auditory and then visual. At first you listen to instructions (auditory)and once you have heard the message your brain tries to see or "visualize" the message. In this way you have heard it and then have seen it and now you are ready to try it. a. Auditory Brain
In my last article, I wrote about developing a Preseason Schedule which uses the components of flexibility, speed play, aerobic conditioning, strength training , drilling, playing, and mental toughness. This schedule gave you adequate time to prepare your Racquetball Skills, Conditioning Skills, and Mental Skills. Now that you've gone through the Preseason Schedule let's introduce you to the In-Season Schedule. (more…)
My last article, Taking Time Off and Recovery, reviewed the Postseason Recovery Cycle and how important it really is to fully recover both physically and mentally after a long season. Then it's time to start the Preseason Schedule to prepare for when tournaments and leagues start up again. If you haven't already begun, now's the time to focus on getting back into a routine using the components of flexibility, speed play, aerobic conditioning, strength training, drilling, playing, and mental toughness. These four steps will help you get started. (more…)
VISUALIZATION…. The #1 technique in maintaining mental toughness is visualization. It is the art of creating images in your mind of perfect technique and performance and allowing these images to become imprinted into your muscle memory which lives an inch and a half around your belly button. The best athletes do this naturally without even knowing it! But every athlete needs to understand that this is the key to perfecting consistent performance. “What your mind can perceive and your body believes…you can achieve!” – Terry Orlick YOUR MIND…is an amazing instrument. It does not know the difference between a vividly
By: Diana McNab MEd, Sports Consulting & Life Coaching; a former 8 year member of The Canadian National Ski Team now working with Elite, Olympic, Paralympic and Professional Athletes. NUTRITION Corner: The number one cause of poor performance with most athletes is dehydration and a lack of proper nutrients that will enhance performance as well as heal and repair tissues and cells after practice or competition. All elite athletes start with Sports Nutrition and make sure that they understand what their body needs for strength, power, speed, finesse and recovery. Next they take their body weight and divide it by 2 ounces
