Psychology
fromPsychology Today
10 hours agoThe Power of Negative Thinking for Athletic Performance
Imagery focused on negative possibilities can enhance performance and emotional regulation in challenging situations.
After a tough workout, your body enters a state of stress: muscle fibers are damaged, energy stores are depleted, and hydration levels drop. This is a critical moment. If your body gets the right nutrients, it starts rebuilding immediately. If not, recovery slows down, and so does progress.
Teams that look strong on paper can often perform much less impressively if even one or two key players are removed from the mix, and even the very best teams can look vulnerable with a long enough string of tough-luck injuries.
Travel fatigue refers to the cumulative physical and mental drain that comes from crossing time zones, sleeping in unfamiliar environments, and competing on compressed schedules. It is not just about being tired from a long flight.
In 2017, Bjorn Mannsverk's phone rang. A year before, what was meant to be a special 100th anniversary for Bodo/Glimt ended in heartbreak as the Norwegian club were relegated from the top flight. A fresh approach was needed to get the club back on track. Having been stationed in Bodo before in his role as a fighter pilot with the Royal Norwegian Air Force, Mannsverk was familiar with the town, but not the football club.
You feel an unpleasant sensation - like a sinking feeling of anxiety in your stomach as the game begins, and you think, "I'm anxious. Here we go again. I'm about to blow it." You feel your pain increasing, and the thoughts churn: "Great. I'll probably miss a whole week of work." Imagined catastrophes fill your mind. Manage these thoughts with the 3 C's: Catch it, Check it, and Change it.
In this episode of the On Coaching Podcast, Steve Magness and Jon Marcus discuss the concept of 'fit but flat,' exploring the phenomenon where athletes excel in metabolic fitness but fail to perform competitively due to a lack of neuromuscular coordination. Using examples like middle-distance runner Ingram Brion, the hosts delve into how metabolic training alone can lead to race failures.