Physical Activation Can Improve Your Intensity
Athletes often under perform early in competition because they lack the proper level of intensity. Why is intensity important for athletes?
When athletes come prepared with a high level of intensity, they’re more likely to focus better in competition, which results in a better overall performance.
If you (or your athletes) come to the game tired or with a lack of intensity, you’ll will not focus well and this will show in your performance. And not performing well early in the game, can snowball into a lack of confidence or even frustration.
When you are not focused at the beginning of a game, start by noting your level of intensity.
For most athletes, intensity equals focus. But this is not in every case. Some athletes do better with a lower level of intensity. How can you or your athletes figure out what’s the ideal level of intensity?
You want to think back to your best games or performances. What level of intensity did you have? Do you need to have super high intensity or stay calm and relaxed? You want to find your ideal state and strive to recreate that level of intensity.
How to Improve Your Pregame Intensity
You or your athletes can boost intensity by improving physical activation. Physical activation happens automatically in the middle of the game when your HR and respiration are high.
However, you want to have high activation at the start of competition. You might try riding a stationary bike, doing sprints, or jumping rope before the game starts.
Physical activation gets their heart rate into an optimal zone. This allows you to focus better. But that’s not all you can do…
Another way to boost intensity is to make sure you feel challenged. The author of “Flow,” Dr. C says that being fully immersed happens when you have a clear challenge and you have the skills to meet that challenge.
Sometimes you might feel bored or less challenged and thus lack the right pregame intensity. You want this to feel challenged but NOT turn it into an expectation.
For example, a golfer might focus on hitting the first two greens in regulation. A tennis player might challenge self to go into the net two times in the first game. A swimmer might think about a strong push off the wall.
When you understand the level of optimal intensity that helps you focus your best, you want to create this optimal zone of intensity before every competition.
Consistent mental and physical preparation leads to consistent performance!
To learn more about how mental training can help athletes, check out these Top Sports Psychology YouTube Channels to help improve your confidence, focus, composure, and success in sports.
Related Sports Psychology Articles
- How to Perform With Higher Intensity
- How Elite Athletes Gain Trust in their Game
- How to Harness the Power of Consistency
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The Focused Athlete
It’s probably no secret that you have many opportunities to become distracted in sports. Athletes are bombarded with both internal and external distractions everyday in practice and competition. Focused athletes are able to get the most from their skills because they are more efficient with practice and more concentrated in competition. Athletes who lack focus let distractions run wild through their mind and don’t know how to adjust or refocus.
The Focused Athlete was developed for any level coach, parent, or junior to professional athlete who wants to improve performance and gain a competitive edge. It does not matter if you are a fledgling junior athlete; or a seasoned professional, plagued with distractions; or you just wanting to learn how to improve concentration…
“The Focused Athlete” is a complete system to teach you how to focus like a champion and harness the power of a zone focus every time you step on the playing field, court, track, or course in practice and games!