chapter 3. The player
B M Devitt and P Devitt
A fit player is better than an injured star!
 |
PHYSICAL PREPARATION
• The player should have a basic level of fitness to take part in the game
• The player should be trained in the techniques of the individual sport
• A warm-up before the sport is advised to reduce the risk of injury
• A player suffering from illness should be reviewed by trained medical personnel before taking part
• The general rule applies – do not play if you have a temperature
• Any player participating with a pre-existing injury runs the risk of making the injury worse, causing more serious harm
• A player who plays with an injury is often less mentally prepared and often underperforms
MENTAL PREPARATION
Get your mind on the game!
Mental preparation is crucial to improve performance and to reduce risk of injury. Sport is a highly charged, emotional experience where normally sensible people can lose control of themselves. In such a situation, players are more likely to cause harm to themselves or others.
Let us look now at the positive and negative factors involved in getting your mind on the game.
Positive factors
• Focus: on goals, technique, strategy, desire
• Motivation: the will to succeed, the desire to achieve your goals
An ideal mental approach to sport involves ‘the five Cs’:
• Calmness
• Confidence
• Courage
• Control
• Clarity
Teams can often be found reciting these as a mantra!
I’ve got butterflies in my tummy, what do I do?
Players often describe the feeling of nerves before a game. Anxiety may be a good thing and is known to improve performance. However, too much anxiety, particularly on a big occasion, can cause a player to become paralysed with fear. This process is known as ‘stage fright’.
Related posts:
Stay updated, free articles. Join our Telegram channel
Full access? Get Clinical Tree
