Psychological strategies

1. Psychological strategies

2. Psychological strategies Relaxation techniques target both body and the mind. Following hard training and demanding performances, athletes may experience symptoms of low concentration, lack of motivation and increased levels of anxiety. The use of psychological strategies represents an important phase in emotional recovery. The choice of relaxation methods are quite individual and involves experimentation to establish which technique best works.

3. Debriefing sessions and performance evaluations are necessary but must be positive, focusing on the process and not the outcome. Mind relaxing activities such as reading, listening to music and watching movies or television are helpful and used by most athletes. Other more specialised psychological techniques such as progressive muscular relaxation, flotation, meditation, centered breathing and positive self-talk are realised if practiced frequently. Adequate sleep is still regarded as probably the most important recovery strategy, although too much sleep can be detrimental. Relaxation techniques reduce tension, thereby facilitating both physical and psychological recovery.