coachh
Junior Member
Posts: 336
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Post by coachh on Dec 30, 2008 19:03:07 GMT -6
I have just finished two books that were recommended on here: The New Toughness Training for Sports and The Mental Edge. Both talk about the positives of Imagery / Visualization. I have never used it as a coach or as a player. So I guess I am somewhat skeptical, but willing to try.
I would like to know from you, have you used it? Like it? Don't like it? How often?
Any other thoughts on it?
Thanks
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Post by airman on Dec 30, 2008 19:25:06 GMT -6
there are some great sublminial/guided visualization Cds out there which are developed for different sports.
I practive visualization every moring upon getting up and every evening before bed.
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Post by lucassean2 on Dec 30, 2008 20:16:35 GMT -6
I am a big believer in visualization as both a former athlete and a coach.
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Post by cmow5 on Dec 30, 2008 23:01:43 GMT -6
I introduced it to the Jr High I worked for last year. This year as the frosh DC and Varsity asst I did not even know they did it until about 1 hour before the first game the WR coach took the team in a different room for it.
I love it. I have heard from a few different sources that life is 90% mental and 10% physical. If you vision yourself in a positive way you will be amazed at the results. Lou Holtz Did it and in one of his books he stated there was a dramatic improvement.
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Post by brophy on Dec 31, 2008 8:58:48 GMT -6
I think we, as coaches, need to do better job delivering visualization techniques (physical & mental). The issue becomes how much time are we willing to divert to teaching something else? For the 20 or 30 minutes we teach visualization, we are not lifting weights, or running drills, watching film, etc......
Husker Power was really big on this back in the mid-90s, but it was mostly like a self-reflective meditation session.
I know that is the case for me and I'm trying to figure out a way to deliver the techniques of visualization outside of just TALKING AT the kids. Trying to figure out a way to show the kids how to think, how to prepare, how to see the entire game and where visualization fits in that process. Like a training video (20 min) that shows how it would be applied on the sideline (lets say) by reviewing the opening script(ed plays) in your head (the sequence and assignment), then sizing up your matchup (opponent personnel) and feeling your way through the event prior to it happening (ala the 'flash-forwards' in the movie "Last Samurai")
I think the mental preparation (execution phase) is being accomplished through Darin Slack's flash training.
I haven't seen anything (yet) that combines a comprehensive method of Combat breathing, hand/foot placement drills, etc into one system.
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mtp
Probationary Member
Posts: 7
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Post by mtp on Dec 31, 2008 23:04:57 GMT -6
Read any books by Bob Rotella
Golf at the Top, by Steve Williams ( Who is Tiger's caddie) This book actually gives you step by step instruction for improvement.
It uses golf as the backdrop, but any sport could be substituted. The best coaches that I have played for and worked with have all done these type of things naturally.
While time is an issue, I think you can weave a lot of the ideas right into your regular practice routine.
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Post by carookie on Jan 1, 2009 0:44:50 GMT -6
Maybe this fits what you are asking.
Before I take my players out (Lineman, 3rd group out of the locker room) I have them close their eyes and tell them to visualize making several plays against what we anticipate the opponent doing. I tell them to picture themselves succesfully making a block, tackle, shedding a block to make a play, etc. I tell them to visualize the play from snap to whistle, and while visualizing the play I tell them to focus on their hands, their feet, their head, and their hips.
Hopefully they do it; I try to get them to do this for a couple of different plays, and after about 2 minutes of this I remind them to keep these images with them store them away and keep them with them for gametime.
I never really got this from anywhere, just put it together from what seemed to make sense. I know there are studies that show the importance of visualization, I always just figured that if you've seen yourself doing something, even just imagined it, once you'll more capable of doing it for real.
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mtp
Probationary Member
Posts: 7
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Post by mtp on Jan 1, 2009 9:45:29 GMT -6
That is the basic idea. The more you can get them to do that on and off the field the better they will perform assuming that they are visualizing/affirming positive ideas. You really have to avoid affirming negative ideas.
Here is a classic football example:
Your corner gets beat on playaction because he is looking in the backfield and not reading his key.
The coach yells at him for looking in the backfield. According to the theory all you have done is reaffirm looking in the backfield . The comparable golf example is when you are standing on the tee and there is water on your left, and you say to yourself " Don't hit it in the water."
At which point you proceed to hit right in the water. During his playing career Jack Nicklaus wouldn't even acknowlege that he ever misssed a putt.
In practice it his hard to correct the mistake without mentioning the mistake so I guess the best we can do is minimize the negative behavior and over emphasize the positive behavior that we are looking at.
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Post by drfootball99 on Jan 1, 2009 16:58:58 GMT -6
Try the text book - Phsychological skills training for sport and exercise.... Lot of reading but but good stuff.
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Post by davecisar on Jan 2, 2009 6:52:44 GMT -6
Visualization hs been around forever and while it may seem holey to some, it works. Over 20 years ago I used Napoleon Hills classic visualization book written in the 1920s-30s "Think and Grow Rich". It has been used by business people and atheletes world wode including Jack Nicholas, it works.
BUT my HS coach in 1978 tried to get us to visualize things, he didnt present it well or really step by step show us how. We thought he was nuts and none of us did it. SO it's important as the others above have stated to tell your players:
Why they are doing it
Why it works- great examples of top athletes and business people that have successfully used it
How to do it , step by step
When to do it. process, time to do it etc
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Post by airman on Jan 4, 2009 15:08:52 GMT -6
tom osborne used to have his lineman visualize the called play when they broke the huddle.
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Post by jgordon1 on Jan 5, 2009 11:33:52 GMT -6
see it, say it, do it, teach it
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Post by brophy on Jan 5, 2009 12:42:47 GMT -6
again, this kinda all goes back to the OFF SEASON WEIGHT PROGRAM, doesn't it? I mean, we are essentially the exact same things as 'athletes' performing lifts, right? Breathing
Foundational basics (stance, core, hand position, eccentric/concentric position)
Seeing the lift being performed
Getting under the bar when you are fully prepared for explosions  We are teaching the method of execution / performance of athletes / technicians. |
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