Creating Challenging Training Environments

Chelsey DempseyCaoimhe MartinLeonie Webster

Challenging Training Environments

• Anxiety– Symptoms; effects

• Performance strategies– Dealing with anxiety– GS; ST; Relax; Imag

• Training environments– More like competition

Anxiety

• How do you know if your athletes are anxious?

• When do the symptoms start?• What effect does it have on performance?

Symptoms• Sweaty palms• Increased HR• Going to the toilet• Feeling/Being sick• Worry

• Performing poorly (potential, letting people down)

• Competitors• Particular course

sections

• Feel out of control

Effects• Freeze/stuck• Lose fluidity (lurch…)• Read environment

wrong• Decision making

• Sequence

• Go out too hard too soon

• Perform really well!

Theory…

• Self-focus – Learning continuum

• Distraction– Focussing on irrelevant cues

• Ironic Effects– Do exactly what you are trying not do

How the theory can help us…

– Psych skills (link to previous workshop)– Holistic strategies– Focus on what to do rather than not what to do– Routines

Re-cap

• Goal Setting– Pathway to high performance– Controllable

• Self talk– Holistic

• Imagery– Type and function

• Relaxation– Phys / psych

Mental Training

Training Environments

• Different things may help different people• People before athletes!– Strategies will differ between people

• Training to help prepare for competition alongside learning skills

Training & Anxiety• Learn under anxiety less likely to perform poorly in

competition

• Specificity of Practice• Develop plans to utilise information available specific to

situation• Change conditions (e.g., no anxiety-high anxiety) = current

plan no longer appropriate• Similar conditions = current plan appropriate

Training with anxiety

• Some research…

Consequences training….

BUT

• Increase pressure via consequences for performing poorly – mirror competition

• Physical consequences (e.g., 3 min exertion test)• Social consequences (“waiter” service, singing nursery rhymes,

clean boat)

• Transformational delivery (vision)..otherwise just punishment?

• Buy in/agreement from athletes and parents• Opportunities to practice & support

• Review

Key Points

• Skill development– Learn skill first

• Pressure training– Practice under pressure with support

• Pressure Testing– Perform under pressure with no support

• Review– Coach and athlete