Different Pre-Game Strokes For Different Folks
Wimbleton’s only a few days away, and everyone’s hoping for more drama
similar to last year’s epic 5-set battle between Nadal and Federer.
Everyone except Nadal, that is, who’s sitting this one out due to a
knee injury. Today’s article in the Telegraph focuses on the contrasting prematch behavior of these two great players.
It’s
interesting, I’m often asked by elite athletes what is the best way to
prepare for competition. My answer is that there is no “best” way that
applies to all. People are different. Extroverts tend to like things
(action and confrontation) that raise their arousal levels. Introverts
tend to prefer quiet and calm to prepare.
In my upcoming book,
Performing Under Pressure, I describe working with an NCAA D 1 tennis
team to develop a pre-competition routine for the group. Before each
match, the players would lie down for five minutes with their eyes
closed, and their racquets in hand. After relaxing and breathing for a
few moments, they would mentally run through every aspect of their game
and imagine themselves playing well, with speed, balance, power, and
accuracy.
Most of the players enjoyed the process and found it
set them up well. However, a couple weren’t comfortable with the
routine. They said sitting quietly and visualizing before a match made
them "nervous". Instead of spending a few minutes being quiet and
calming down, they wanted to do something energizing to "pump"
themselves up. For them, we designed a stimulating shadow boxing
reaction drill that got them moving and encouraged them to choose some
hard-driving music to listen to prior to going out onto the courts.
I
also developed a self-talk program for the players. For most of the
team the affirmations were positive, calming, reassuring, and
confidence building. The self-talk created for the extroverts was very
upbeat and challenging. Essentially, it was designed to increase their
arousal levels and elicit feelings that would give them an edge and
help them to perform.
It’s also interesting to note that one’s
preferences can chance over a career. In the Telegraph article, it
mentions how Federer, once rather flamboyant, seems to have toned down
his persona over the years. I think age and experience has a lot to do
with it. In my book, Hockey Tough, A Winning Mental Game, I mention
that Steve Yzerman, a perennial NHL all-star, reported that as a young
player he would pump and psyche himself up before games and, as he grew
to be an older, wiser veteran, he switched to relaxation as a way to
get ready for battle.
Hockey Tough, A Winning Mental Game is available at amazon.
Performing Under Pressure will be released this fall though Wiley Publishing.
For Dr. Saul Miller's blog archive, please click here.
