Poseidon Swimming - November 27

Are You Mental?

Athletes who remain successful over time understand that focus and determination must be present at each training session while simultaneously retaining a feeling of enjoyment and fun.

Fun is demonstrated in many forms ranging from camaraderie with team mates to adventurous journeys out of town and remains an important thought in every successful athlete as they pursue advancement of excellence. Fun is supported by a strong mental approach that assists strenuous training demands of competitive swimming.

Enjoyment is supported by planning and daily attention to career management. How you perceive efforts, missed social engagements, late night studies, injury rehabilitation, peer pressure and family time must be considered as parts of the entire success system.

Failing to plan is the reason that many unknowingly plan to fail. How often do you approach training with perfect technique or a particular performance goal on your mind? How often do you dread the thought of walking in the door to suffer though another training session without motivation of a specific purpose? How often do you plan your week to include social time and still meet your practice commitment?

Try a new mental approach to your game. Set performance goals each day and clear your mind of other obligations while you are training. Attempt to enter your training session with a clear mind free of preconceived notions about how you should perform. Place a reason in your mind, something that you want to develop and use that as a motivation to attend all required sessions.

As one practices a new mental process several benefits will immerge. First, daily training sessions will become more enjoyable (fun) as excellence is in the front of your thoughts. Secondly, as one increases their ability to create positive goals and images in training, (enjoyment) and race day becomes more automatic with respect to stoke mechanics and relaxed performance. And a side benefit, greater awareness and appreciation for the efforts of your team mates will begin to be a positive reinforcement which is both enjoyable and fun.

Achievement is enjoyable. Striving with others seeking similar performance is fun. Create new mental goals that will assist your physical efforts in training and greatly enhance your competitive experience.

This week:
We are off to Indiana this Wed for the US Open long course competition. Tom Dolan and Hargrave are just around the corner so please be attentive, rest outside the pool and continue to be proactive with academic studies to facilitate a relaxed mind heading into December focus competitions.

As we are upon the cold and flu season please dress responsibly and appropriately for the ever changing weather. Please remember your post practice recovery items that greatly enhance recovery for your next training session. Hydration is a must for any human however imperative for athletes. Drink a minimum of 8 glasses of water per day and remember your CLEAN water bottle for hydration during training each day.

I am enthusiastically awaiting excellent performances at our mid season tests.

FIRE UP POSEIDON!

TED