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Consistency and Composure. Concentration. Focusing attention on the RELEVANT cues in the environment Maintaining that attentional focus. Concentration. Attentional focus as a function of width and direction (Broad vs. narrow; External vs. internal)
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Concentration • Focusing attention on the RELEVANT cues in the environment • Maintaining that attentional focus
Concentration • Attentional focus as a function of width and direction (Broad vs. narrow; External vs. internal) • Attentional preferences? “Ideal” depends on: • Person • Sport • Situation
Concentration • Christiano Ronaldo – Tested to the limit • (iSkysoft vid)
Improving Concentration • Use cue words • Establish routines • Practice eye control (keeping eyes from wandering to irrelevant cues – e.g., Todd) • Stay focused in the present • Learn thought-stopping techniques • If an irrelevant (usually negative) thought pops in, let it go quickly, replacing it with a focus on the present. “What do I need to do right NOW?”
Composure (Keeping focused) ·Regaining focus after a mistake (quickly). ·“What happens to you is nowhere near as important as how you react to what happens to you,” Jack Donohue ·It does no good to punish yourself for previous mistakes. Practice refocusing during drills!
Composure Use self-talk to... • return focus to specific skills • calm self down • combat fatigue • counter negative/self-defeating thoughts, e.g., • “This officiating sucks... we’ll never win” • “I hope I don’t choke” • “I should never have made that error”
Composure iSkysoft vid - 1964 Olympic 10,000M
Characteristics of “flow” • Challenge / skill balance • Automaticity / spontaneity • Total concentration but without conscious effort • Sense of being in control without trying to be in control • Loss of self- & time-awareness (becoming one with the activity)
The Path to Flow in Sports 1. Keep it a game 2. Powerful Goal • As you play the game, remind yourself of the process goals. 3. RelaxedFocus • Release your mind from all distractions, from within or without. Focus your entire attention on the game/task. 4. Surrender to the Process • Let go. Don't strive or strain to achieve your objective. Just enjoy the process.