Mental Toughness

Re: Mental Toughness

Little question for Liz - have you read the ECB's 'hitting the seam'? With my dad being a coach he got a copy, and alerted to me to some of the content in it.......
 
Re: Mental Toughness

Hitting the Seam is a fantastic tip bit; a shame it is not more frequent and available to everybody.

I take it you are referring to the interview with Brian Ashton. I found it extremely interesting, especially as rugby is my first sport and the majority of my clients are elite rugby players. The message seems to be taken more seriously in rugby. At the level I train, the guys have technique and a certain degree of fitness under control but are learning how mental toughness, functional fitness, nutrition and tactical awareness can maximise their potential... exponentially.

The guys spend a lot of time with me learning how to control their emotions which, if left unmanaged, can become so expensive; to themselves as well as the squad.

Also, as a Strength and Conditioning Practitioner, I take Personal Training several stages further; using biomechanics and kinematics, I strip down their fitness training. It helps to know what actually goes on with the body during the game; which muscles are working, which fibres are utilised and which need to be ready to fire. For instance, I would do things with the front row differently to the back row, let alone the backs; so much training these days is unnecessary, leaving little time to do the necessary!

They find the nutrition side very interesting; not just what to eat for maintenance but how to provide the right fuel for the right competition and how to prepare their bodies, reaching optimum, for the next one.

I will not insult your intelligence by talking about tactics; you know how important it is to think!

With the above, it is easy to take a player from County to Regional to Elite very quickly and all these tools can be easily transferred to cricket but unfortunately, very few cricketers in this country think it important enough. I think it is the culture of the sport here; don't get me wrong, I love village cricket and what could be better on a warm Summer's Sunday afternoon? However, there is a huge opportunity out there for those wishing it and the first place to start is with your Goals. :D
 
Re: Mental Toughness

Liz's very long post there is fantastic. I'm a rugby player, by both nature and mental aspects. Your bit about mentally preparing and sorting out rugby players mind is spot on, im not an overly aggressive person, i would much rather walk away, but i know that without proper training i'd go in all guns blazing and get myself knocked out, or end up breaking something.

Rugby is a, well its a much more better trained affair if im totally honest, technique is even more important in rugby as if you aint got it, you'll end up breaking you back when tackling, and should. When driving in you'll end up getting concussed, and if you're a hooker or one of the "important," positions then you need to know how to do it, and its just abit of a "well trained," sport.

I know what you mean Liz, i just feel cricket does need that level of technique, in cricket you can get away with a flaw or two, but in rugby, one flaw, and you're floored.
 
Re: Mental Toughness

Hi Liz, yeah all sport is about maximising performance and fulfilling potential - most definitely.

Just had a nice little run - 2 miles, 20 mins, 6 MPH on the treadmill. On a side note, my stomach was feeling very tight. Any suggestions, please?!

;)
 
Re: Mental Toughness

Describe 'tight' KF.
Upper, lower abdomen?
Left side, right side?
Did it go all around to the back?
When did you start to feel it?
 
Re: Mental Toughness

Liz Ward said:
Describe 'tight' KF.
Upper, lower abdomen?
Left side, right side?
Did it go all around to the back?
When did you start to feel it?

Tight as in a pain that isn't sharp, but constant.

Lower abdomen.

Not too sure - I only feel it when running.

My pack did start to ache. (I have found why back is hurting!!!)

After about 8 mins.
 
Re: Mental Toughness

Liz Ward said:
So you get this pain everytime you run?

Why was your back hurting?

Not everytime - just yesterday and a few other occasions I remember.

Basically, I was arching my back when bowling.
 
Re: Mental Toughness

This is a difficult one for me, not sure without actually seeing you KF. Are you breathing in through your mouth rather than your nose do you think?

The only thing I can suggest is, if you notice a pattern here and it happens a lot, you should get this checked out by your GP. This is not, or should not be, a normal consequence of running. Other than the breathing, where cold air would be reaching your muscles, rather than the processed warm air, via your nose, I cannot think what could be causing this pain.

As we have strayed off topic a bit here, I have moved the rest of this answer. Please do come with me to General Level Of Fitness... From Home. See you there :D
 
Re: Mental Toughness

Sorry for this ridiculously delayed response......... ::) ;)

Yeah, it seems as if problem solved on this front, no trouble experienced recently....*touch wood*.
 
Re: Mental Toughness

Quick update re; targets.

Doosra - well control is kushte, the inability to move it from leg to off isn't.....hopefully I can combine the two and produce a useful end result.

Batting with more freedom - not exactly. Something has changed since early December - I was batting well, now am experiencing concerns about grip, head position, feet movement.
 
Re: Mental Toughness

kallis fan said:
Batting with more freedom - not exactly. Something has changed since early December - I was batting well, now am experiencing concerns about grip, head position, feet movement.

Thinking too much about it?
 
Re: Mental Toughness

kallis fan said:
Maybe I'm just too intense?

The best thing you can do is relax.

Next time, loosen up and go out there to have fun; give yourself one night off. Tell yourself "Whatever happens, it doesn't matter" and see what happens.
 
Re: Mental Toughness

Liz Ward said:
The best thing you can do is relax.

Next time, loosen up and go out there to have fun; give yourself one night off. Tell yourself "Whatever happens, it doesn't matter" and see what happens.

Certainly am open to trying things - one my main aims is to maintain an open mind when offered advice - this doesn't apply so much to yourself, but to people I 'hold in less regard' shall we say.....;)

One thing I will say is that in order to enjoy myself I want to be hitting the ball - and this can cause loss of technique and shape....

Striking a balance being the key....I suppose.
 
Re: Mental Toughness

Liz Ward said:
The best thing you can do is relax.

Next time, loosen up and go out there to have fun; give yourself one night off. Tell yourself "Whatever happens, it doesn't matter" and see what happens.

I agree with this, I can often place a lot of pressure on myself to do well and it often causes my game (cricket, golf, football, etc) to go to pieces. I'm very competitive by nature and have to channel it correctly.

The best way is to take a step back, relax and attempt to take your mind of things, not always easy, but it does help (at least in my experience).
 
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