Archive for March, 2010

If you watch professional athletes all have routines if it is pre-game routines during the game or post game routines. Some say they are superstitious, but there is a difference. Establishing routines allows the athlete to find consistency and can help athletes to maintain a state controlled if they are won or lost. Routines are important because they are all unique and are designed for the athlete to know what is comfortable and what works for them. Athletes with a team may have to work together as a team and they must warm-up in May as a team, but a good coach will also allow each individual to go through their own routines. For example: Some coaches may use the psyche “up” method of loud music and yelling to get their athletes pumped up or high energy for the game. However, this does not work for all athletes and may in fact have a negative effect on some athletes. Once again, the team coaches want to unite their teams by making them perform the same tasks together, it is well to some extent, but remember that your team is composed of different personalities and individuals and enable them to have time for themselves. This amounts to having good communication with your athletes and learn about each person and how they respond to collective tasks. Coach to “My Way or the highway” mentality often forces his players to become robotic and fall into the military way of breaking down the individual to become nothing more than a follower controlled. This is necessary for the military, but in sport you want your athletes to be able to make their own decisions and react to certain events that will best fit the game plan or tactics developed for them by coach . Respect their individuality! Coaching or playing an individual sport is anything but you’re not faced with several athletes. It’s much easier to allow an individual to do what is best for them. Superstition or routine? If you ever watch Russian tennis champion Maria Sharapova, you will notice her routines. The most common that I noticed was his routine between games. After each game and before going to sit at the change of ends, it will go through this routine without fail as it helps maintain consistency and a sense of control, no matter what. Win or lose, she follows this routine. Follow the last point of the game, she will walk to the corner of the service box, step into the box before making a turn at right angles to his seat. If the last shot of the rally took him to court, she will then return to the court and go through his routine. Every tennis player follows a little routine before serving the tennis ball. It may be bouncing the ball two or three times, draw up their hats, balls rolling around their hands, as Ivan Lendl did, or bounce the ball on the ground with their racquets like Boris Becker did. These routines allowed the player to gain consistency and control over the pace of the game. It allowed them to be in control and focus on the next point. Superstitions are more like obsessive compulsive actions that occur when an athlete is confident in doing this, it will bring them luck. Most superstitions arise by accident. If an athlete eats a meal some time before a game and win, then they may eat the same meal before every meal, just because they thought it brought them good luck. Once they lose when they stop eating the meal and change. Superstitions can start and stop quickly enough, however, routines are developed so they can stay with you through both winning and losing. As a coach you should not try to force your routine on the athlete, instead of letting them develop their own routine and then work with them to make minor changes as needed. Once again it is a recognition that each individual is different and reacts differently to certain things that other athletes. Routines must be developed for testing and be included in each session. Do not try to incorporate a new routine during the competition because you leave your comfort zone. The practice is working on and perfecting the skills, the competition is to use these skills instinctively! Tips for athletes in individual sports: Develop routines that you are comfortable with Allow your coach to help you adapt these routines as long as you still feel comfortable with them. Practice these routines on a consistent basis Elaborate pre-game warm-up Develop pre-game stretching routines Develop routines for pre-game and relax in the UPS Find a quiet place where you will not be distracted by other Know when to turn on and off when If lost, make sure you do your routines Maintain control of the game or match Make sure the routines are in the rules and guidelines of Sport Tips for athletes in team sports: Communicate with your coach on your individual needs Incorporate your own routines in the team-oriented tasks Let your teammates see that it is important for you to call your own routines Knowing when your coach wants you to participate in team work Going to early stage if necessary to allow time to prepare If you travel to the place as a team using the time on the bus or plane to prepare Keep a notebook to track your progress Keep it simple Routines have an end as they do not over The preparation is only one of the keys to success Keep superstitions in check Remember that routines must be developed and put into practice during your training sessions. If it is prior to kick a soccer ball, hitting a baseball, shooting a basketball, hit a tennis serve or throw a ball, you must be comfortable in integrating routines in your overall game plan. This is often an overlooked element of becoming a successful athlete. This is another milestone of the game and play like a pro.