|
|||||
|
|
PsychologyAthletic AttitudeAttitude is vital to training activity and sustaining a high level of performance in a race. Not only must you put in 100% in the course of a race, it is crucial that as part of your training discipline that you develop an attitude which forces you to work to your maximum throughout a training session. The level of intensity in a work-out is controlled largely by your desire to work, particularly when fatigue sets in, when you must consciously order your Central Nervous System to maintain the workload or increase it. This one factor effects everything since paddle speed does not equal paddle power; it depends on how much effort is spent during the stroke. Only you know how much you are trying – what you put into your training is what you will get out of it or rather what the TEAM will get out of it. Those traits which most profoundly effect performance are:
a) Desire; The desire to perform well or improve one’s abilities will develop through constructive training objectives and must be regularly reinforced through positive feedback. Each paddler should be urged to strive to be his or her best which means setting goals which are marginally beyond reach, yet achievable with effort and determination. Very often an athletes desire ‘TO BE THE BEST’ or ‘TO WIN’ can cause overreaching or induce undesirably high stress levels. There is not much you can do if a boat beside you is pulling ahead in a race; you cannot ‘WILL’ yourself to beat them. The desire to overcome your WEAKNESS is the key to focusing mental energy on the work; you must recognize your own deficiencies and be determined to eliminate them. Our bodies do not willing let themselves be pushed to the absolute limit and many athletes may not even know where their limits are. Limits must be discovered and can only be revealed or changed with an extremely focused effort. Be disciplined and above all, don’t cheat yourself! b) Assertiveness; How hard an athlete is willing to work in training and in a race all depends on how capable they may be at asserting their abilities. This can be particularly problematic in a dragon boat team where a paddlers’ lack of assertion can easily go unnoticed. Drills to focus on the individual will help to reduce the anonymity of paddling in a group. Development of aggression is a vital for a paddler to achieve an adequate level of arousal needed for maximal performance. c) Tension Control The ability to generate and maintain the appropriate level of stress, not too high or too low, is crucial for peak performance. During a race or practice many distractions can throw you off your plan such as a false start, delay or collision with another boat, which can raise the level of stress to the point it interferes with performance. Getting too pumped up can result in loss of control and cause you to burn out to quickly in a race. On the other hand, an athlete may be too relaxed and may not become sufficiently aroused before a race which can also lead to reduced performance. Emotional detachment, regular and rhythmic breathing and an intense focus on the mental image of the race re-created in your mind will create the most suitable environment for an ultimate performance. This is not an easy state to achieve - it must be learned with hard training. e) Sensitivity It is important that each paddler is keenly aware of changes in the race, involving rating and intensity levels. Staying alert is not easy in longer races or training sessions when ones' attention can wander, loosing focus on a pre-established programme. Mental ‘Imaging’ plays an important role in both training and in race events, where a clearly developed mental picture will improve your ‘Focus’ on the work to be done (it can be so intense that you can ‘see’ your own stroke or ‘feel’ the water moving by without even being in the boat). It is important for each paddler to be able to measure their own performance accurately against this image and be capable of making technique or intensity adjustments on demand. f) Personal Accountability It is the responsibility of every paddler to recognize his or her obligations to the team and themselves. Clearly without continually monitoring the heart rate of every paddler in the boat, it is difficult to determine the amount of effort one is putting into training exercises or a race; particularly since there are 19 other paddlers to drive the boat forward. This is a personal issue where the desire to perform well and commitment to the TEAM must over power the natural tendency to want to ‘give up’ or ease off in the intensity of work. This is what separates a dedicated athlete from an undependable one. Team bonding is a key where each paddler is dedicated to a common goal, even though personality traits may vary considerable. g) Confidence Every paddler must be physically and mentally prepared to commit to the race plan or make calculated adjustments as required to perform in accordance with their own personal maximum. With sufficient preparation and by setting goals which are attainable, paddlers should develop a strong sense of confidence in the abilities of the team and themselves. h) Self Discipline The ability to adhere to the principles of a race or a training session requires extreme Self- Discipline. The effect of ‘Athletic Willpower’ has already been discussed as an important component to ‘Endurance’ Training where an athlete must stay focused on the required levels of intensity. |
Hong Kong Island Paddle Club is partnering with the Hong Kong Shark Foundatoin
SponsorsIf you are interested in Sponsoring the Hong Kong Island Paddle Club please email Walter Colgan for more information.
|
|||
© 2008 Hong Kong Island Paddle Club | Site designed & constructed by Thirsty Horse | Sponsored by HostingHK.com |
|||||
