THIS WEEKEND, I'm playing rugby for the first time in what feels like ages. And having been training again for not even a month and a half yet (after a loooong break from the gym ... and the track ... and the field), I'm not feeling as physically prepared as would be ideal. Stupid motivation -- why couldn't you have come knocking at the beginning of December?!
But I know that with continued devotion to my program, my physical conditioning will come back (seriously, hurry UP already). Till then, it's probably more important than ever that I tackle my mental game again, too, so I compiled the following READ TO WIN Book List. (Cue trumpet fanfare.)
I have a lot of reading to do before tomorrow morning.
Thinking Body, Dancing Mind: TaoSports for Extraordinary Performance in Athletics, Business, and Life by Chungliang Al Huang and Jerry Lynch -- This book is a reread for me and came highly recommended by my former USA U-23 and club rugby coach Barb Fugate. I'm positive her pregame visualization and guided imagery sessions have played a part in the many victories she's got under her belt. And oh right, the authors! They cover such topics as perfectionism and fear of success -- solid gold info for many athletes, including myself.
In Pursuit of Excellence: How to Win in Sport and Life Through Mental Training by Terry Orlick, PhD (Human Kinetics, 2000) -- Orlick has spent decades coaching Olympic athletes on mental skills, so he knows his stuff. But I think maybe the most amazing part of this book is that my edition (pictured -- albeit rather wonkily -- at left) has a photo of a jewel-encrusted, nonspecific championship ring, Super Bowl style, on its cover. Find out more on Orlick's methods at www.zoneofexcellence.ca.
The New Toughness Training for Sports by James E. Loehr, EdD (Plume, 1995) -- Yet another dude who has worked with high-profile Olympic athletes, Loehr offers tons of bulleted advice and puts you to work molding yourself into a "fearless warrior." At first glance I thought the info was presented in too workbook-y a fashion for my tastes, but once I dug in, I felt Loehr's grit coming off the pages. (Or oh god, was that dirt?!) Best quote? "Emotions respond much as muscles do. The ones you stimulate the most become the strongest and most accessible."
Mental Training for Peak Performance: Top Athletes Reveal the Mind Exercises They Use to Excel by Steven Ungerleider, PhD (Rodale, 2005) -- There's a chapter on tapping into the power of dreams that I want to hit, and I see advice in there from 1968 Boston Marathon winner Amby Burfoot (Burfoot also writes the Footloose blog at Runner's World). Another interesting part of Ungerleider's book is that the third and final section is divided into sport-specific mental practice, so there's a section on cycling, running, swimming and weight training, to name a few.
The Mental Edge: Maximize Your Sports Potential With the Mind-Body Connection by Kenneth Baum (Perigee, 1999) -- Baum has worked with a range of athletes who've found success with his program. He covers defining your desire, visualization techniques, identifying and conquering obstacles, and committing to action.
Mind/Body Fitness by Tom Seabourne, PhD (YMAA, 2001) -- Seabourne, a sports
psychologist, was also a national tae kwon do champ. He teaches martial arts breathing as part of his sound-mind strategy. More at www.tomseabourne.com. Hands down best part of his Web site is the picture at right. Who doesn't smile during shirtless biceps curls? (Also, do people still do biceps curls? I had no idea!)
I'D LOVE TO HEAR YOUR THOUGHTS on the topic of mental toughness. For instance:
- What are your favorite mental fitness books or other resources? What's missing from my list?
- Do you use visualization and guided imagery before competition? If so, what techniques work best for you?
- If something goes wrong during a game/match/workout session, how do you right your mind?
"Mind-Body Synergy," also from November 2006 -- On the benefits of developing a strong mind-body connection.
"See It, Believe It" from January/February 2006 -- How visioning works (really-really works)!
"Find Your Focus" from May 2005 -- On staying amped for and during your fitness routine.
(disgusting image at top ganked from www.fitbuff.com)
great post/book suggestions.
some Ive read but many I hadnt gotten to yet.
Thanks for the prod.
Im all about the mental imagery for pre-competition (I'll fess up. bodybuilding (natural) but it *is* a competition in the training, yes? :)) and for LIFE.
perhaps too much in that if I can not visualize it occurring (wining the show, my house selling finally, publishing a book for tweens onn loving their bodies) Im convinced it simply wont happen.
but I digress...
Im old school. I love Arnold's Encyclopedia of Bodybuilding (he was the master of the psych out) and Stress for Success by james loehr.
M.
and yes.
that was intended to be ON not ONN.
i find it very difficult to visualize before games. but that's because i have no discipline. so my mind convinces my conscious self that visualizing doesn't work anyway and i don't need to do it. truthfully, when i think about just performing well and tell myself that i will play a good game, i generally play a good game. it isn't that i necessarily have to visualize going through the motions or specific plays, i just have to think about being the best i can be!
I dont visualize, i do the opposite. i try not to think about it and go out and let my muscle memory take over. It might be different depending on the sport, i am a gymnast, so in stead over going through my routine in my head right before competition, i just tape up, jump around a bit and go out there. when the musci starts, or after i salute the judge, my body takes over.
Tom Seabourne can bicep curl me anyday. He frightens me in a really biff Tom Selleck sort of way. I dont know if I am in love or scared to death. im thinking the latter.
Thank you for your book suggestions, MizFit. Will definitely add them to the pile!
Kim, as always, your comments hold a special place in my heart.
Kelly, I hear you on trying to not to overthink anything in the moments before competition (I also hear you about Tom Sellecky Tom Seabourne :)) -- I just found an online "tour diary" entry I'd written for the online rugby site Goffonrugby.com during a US women's rugby trip to Edinburgh, Scotland, in 2004. Seems I also do best when I ambush myself somehow.
An excerpt:
After a scrumptious lunch of sausage-wrap-somethings, there were several loooong hours to kill before our bus would arrive. For me, nothing inspires pregame jitters like a night game with unoccupied space preceding it, so I wasn't looking forward to the wait. I'm jealous of those of my teammates with pregame rituals -- iPods out, lucky draws on -- scheduled just so, their hours orchestrated so that they know they are ready to go. I'm still working my plan out, but it seems I play best accidentally. This day, I decided to pop in a few loads of washing to cut the wait time.
Best decision I ever made, as I hadn't been warned that the washers themselves took about an hour and a half each load. So I spent the remainder of the afternoon frantically pleading and reasoning and wrestling with machines (also hadn't been warned my clothing would actually be locked in there once things got rolling). Machine beat man, so I barely had time to throw my game stuff in a bag and make the bus. The upside was that I had zero time to get nervous, and before I knew it, we were touring the impressive Murrayfield facility and the pitch we were slated to play on just outside the stadium.
I really believe in visualization the night before a game...I find if I try to do it just a few hours before the game it gets me nervous and can affect my performance. So I typically do it right before I go to sleep, lying in my bed where its quiet and warm...and I can just dream about the glory that is rugby.
I do not have a pre-game ritual per say before the game (have recently become and iPod before game wearer) but I do like to walk the field and kick the ball a bit to myself. I feel this warms up my mind, feet, hands and its low key enough that I am not wearing myself out.
Love the post, keep it coming, I will definitely add some of those books to my summer reading list!