There are many techniques at athletes’ disposal to help them focus effectively. Usually, the ones that work the best are those that narrow the gap between what you’re thinking and what you’re doing.
Trigger Words
These words are usually short, vivid and positively phrased reminders designed to help focus on a specific action. Sometimes action words can be used like “jump” or “explode”; alternatively acronyms can be used as long as they are relevant and they resonate with the athlete when the athlete says them or when a coach shouts it out. Athletes can also develop cue words that are mere reminders of important people or events in their lives – For example, a deceased person who holds significant value in the athlete’s life.
Some discount the effectiveness of trigger words, but they can be highly valuable. If an athlete is solely focusing on trigger words they are less susceptible to being affected by extraneous distractions; they also serve as mini reminders of what the athlete should be doing.
Visualisation
Another concentration technique involves the use of mental imagery – seeing and feeling yourself performing a given skill before you actually do it. Visualisation is an instinctive method that is honed and cultivated the more it is applied - The act of creating and rehearsing a positive mental experience in order to enhance your ability to achieve a successful outcome in real life.
Visualisation can be used to envisage the perfect technique, the sights, sounds, smells, the atmosphere, nerves and sensations, which are inevitably associated with the athlete’s performance. With these visual stimuli it helps an athlete to prepare mentally, by improving their confidence, focus, clarity and speed of thought. It helps them to prepare for any scenario and it also fires impulses to the muscles, therefore priming them for action. The more vivid the mental image, the more effectively your brain primes your muscles to complete the same physical and technical action in a real game.
Elite athletes use this concentration method across various sports. This technique can be appropriated and adapted by amateur athletes just as effectively with the same benefits.
Routines
A pre-performance routine is defined as ‘sequence of tasks, relevant thoughts and actions which an athletes engages in systematically prior to his or her performance of a specific sport skill. The use of a consistent routine before you perform key skills takes you from thinking about something to doing it. Routines are valuable because they help you to focus on the job at hand and to take one step at a time.
Sports routines can increase control over athlete’s performances by enabling them to directly prepare every area that impacts their performance. Routines are implemented pre-match and during matches. Pre-match routines are personal to each individual but should be task specific. In a badminton context: Athletes will warm up whilst possibly listening to music (Clique: Eye of The Tiger) and applying the words to their performance. Then they may go to have a hit on the practice court. Their routine may start with drives, into clears, into smashes and then different variations of drops – Athletes should develop their own routine, which they are comfortable with.
Routines can also be used during matches to help regain focus or while executing a specific shot. For Example, If a player is serving, they may have a routine that they have familiarised themselves with, which helps them effectively perform the desired stroke. They may place the shuttle in front of the racket and then count one on the backswing and two on impact.
The next blog will highlight other concentration techniques as this has become a lot longer than I anticipated.
Trigger Words
These words are usually short, vivid and positively phrased reminders designed to help focus on a specific action. Sometimes action words can be used like “jump” or “explode”; alternatively acronyms can be used as long as they are relevant and they resonate with the athlete when the athlete says them or when a coach shouts it out. Athletes can also develop cue words that are mere reminders of important people or events in their lives – For example, a deceased person who holds significant value in the athlete’s life.
Some discount the effectiveness of trigger words, but they can be highly valuable. If an athlete is solely focusing on trigger words they are less susceptible to being affected by extraneous distractions; they also serve as mini reminders of what the athlete should be doing.
Visualisation
Another concentration technique involves the use of mental imagery – seeing and feeling yourself performing a given skill before you actually do it. Visualisation is an instinctive method that is honed and cultivated the more it is applied - The act of creating and rehearsing a positive mental experience in order to enhance your ability to achieve a successful outcome in real life.
Visualisation can be used to envisage the perfect technique, the sights, sounds, smells, the atmosphere, nerves and sensations, which are inevitably associated with the athlete’s performance. With these visual stimuli it helps an athlete to prepare mentally, by improving their confidence, focus, clarity and speed of thought. It helps them to prepare for any scenario and it also fires impulses to the muscles, therefore priming them for action. The more vivid the mental image, the more effectively your brain primes your muscles to complete the same physical and technical action in a real game.
Elite athletes use this concentration method across various sports. This technique can be appropriated and adapted by amateur athletes just as effectively with the same benefits.
Routines
A pre-performance routine is defined as ‘sequence of tasks, relevant thoughts and actions which an athletes engages in systematically prior to his or her performance of a specific sport skill. The use of a consistent routine before you perform key skills takes you from thinking about something to doing it. Routines are valuable because they help you to focus on the job at hand and to take one step at a time.
Sports routines can increase control over athlete’s performances by enabling them to directly prepare every area that impacts their performance. Routines are implemented pre-match and during matches. Pre-match routines are personal to each individual but should be task specific. In a badminton context: Athletes will warm up whilst possibly listening to music (Clique: Eye of The Tiger) and applying the words to their performance. Then they may go to have a hit on the practice court. Their routine may start with drives, into clears, into smashes and then different variations of drops – Athletes should develop their own routine, which they are comfortable with.
Routines can also be used during matches to help regain focus or while executing a specific shot. For Example, If a player is serving, they may have a routine that they have familiarised themselves with, which helps them effectively perform the desired stroke. They may place the shuttle in front of the racket and then count one on the backswing and two on impact.
The next blog will highlight other concentration techniques as this has become a lot longer than I anticipated.