Progressive relaxation
Involves tensing and relaxing each muscle from the neck to the ankles. Tense the muscle while breathing in, hold, and relax on exhaling. The aim is to gradually relax each muscle, and so relax the whole body. There are other relaxation methods, such as meditation, and also methods of controlling the circulation and heart rate.
Imagery
Involves imagining a particular action in your mind before actually doing it. For example, before attempting to take a penalty, imagine yourself scoring by kicking the ball exactly where you want it to go. This method can also be used in learning new skills, such as a dribbling trick.
Concentration
Is all about being focused on the task in hand, and not having your mind cluttered with other thoughts. Soccer players, who are focused, are concentrating only on the game to the extent that they might not know what the time is or what the crowd is doing.
Confidence
In your ability is an important psychological quality, and can be built up by positive self-talk and team building . Optimism is important. Linked to this topic is the idea of cohesion. The Western Samoan rugby team is famous for their "war dance" prior to matches, and in industry, many companies now have group outings to build cohesion and team spirit. A team that criticses each other and contains personalities that dislike each other never plays at its best.
Peak performance
In soccer and other sports completes or pages on sport psychology and mental training. Peak performance means playing at the very best of ones ability, being "on a roll" or "in the groove". Think back to your greatest achievement on the sports field or even in life as a whole. What was it that caused you to play so well? Unfortunately, most of us will have trouble answering that question, and such events are rare. The idea of peak performance is to turn these rare events into regular events. Peak performance started as a concept in athletics, but now it is well recognised in soccer and other sports as well as in the business world. |
