Tully swimming

Building Mental Skills into Practice : 

Building Mental Skills into Practice A Total Game Plan For Utah Swimming Coaches Association Sept. 19, 2009 Presented by: Mike Tully www.totalgameplan.com

“Don’t wait for your ship to come in. Swim out to meet it.” : 

“Don’t wait for your ship to come in. Swim out to meet it.”

Slide 3: 

It’s more than a feel-good quote. It goes to the very heart of achievement. The world is divided into two kinds of people: 1. Those who believe that what they achieve is tied to (and limited by) their ability. 2. Those who take action toward their goals, regardless of odds and the opinions of the “experts.”

Today’s Objectives : 

Today’s Objectives * We want to help our athletes see the possibilities. (We want them to swim out to meet the ship!) * We want our athletes to perform their best when it means the most. * We also want them to learn techniques that can help them in other areas of their life.

Must Readingfor Coaches : 

Must Readingfor Coaches “Talented is Overrated” by Geoff Colvin “The Talent Code” by Daniel Coyle “Outliers” by Malcolm Gladwell

Where to Begin? : 

Where to Begin? The simplicity of ideas We must all be more like Einstein.

Slide 7: 

Einstein asked big questions. But someone asked him a big question, too.

? : 

? Mr. Einstein, do you have a notebook to write down all of your ideas?

E=MC2(Not bad) : 

E=MC2(Not bad)

“Everything should be as simple as it is, but not simpler.” : 

“Everything should be as simple as it is, but not simpler.”

Another question : 

Another question And this one is not for Einstein. It’s for you.

Why do some people improve more than others do? : 

Why do some people improve more than others do?

Practice : 

Practice Some people improve more than others because of the way they practice.

This Brings Us Back to the Mental Game : 

This Brings Us Back to the Mental Game * What mental training is not. * What mental training is.

With what part of your body do you execute a flip turn? : 

With what part of your body do you execute a flip turn?

Your Brain : 

Your Brain Mental training isn’t just something you add to practice. It is at the heart of any improvement.

Focus : 

Focus * What focus is not. * What focus is.

Three Things to Knowabout Focus : 

Three Things to Knowabout Focus

Slide 19: 

1. Focus isn’t just something coaches like to preach about. It’s science. Bernoulli’s Law 2. Everybody has an incredible ability to focus. 3. People often focus on the wrong thing.

Fpro + Fpra + Fpre =Achievement : 

Fpro + Fpra + Fpre =Achievement 1. Focus on program. 2. Focus on practice. 3. Focus on present

Focus on Program : 

Focus on Program Sierra. Diet. Sleep. Homework.

Focus on Practice : 

Focus on Practice What is deliberate practice? * Conscious effort to improve. * Objective is just outside area of competence. * Multiple, measured repetitions. * With feedback

Focus on Present : 

Focus on Present Nervousness comes when you focus on either the past or the future. You can’t change the past; you can’t control the future. The only time in which you can actually do something is in the present.

Practice as Yoga : 

Practice as Yoga There is no such thing as a perfect pose. You can get into each pose as deeply as you wish. This is the secret to perfect mental training. Anyone can get excited about a big meet. Only the exceptional person can get excited about the daily repetitions far away from the spotlight. When performers make a habit of being in the moment, then big meets feel like practice. (Melanie Oudin + Serena Williams)

Ways to Stayin the Moment : 

Ways to Stayin the Moment 1. Breathing 2. Affirmations (Bill Porter, Phil Mik) 3. Images

Know a LotAbout This : 

Know a LotAbout This Google: Fortune Magazine + Deliberate Practice PracticThconventional wisdom about "natural" talent is a myth. The real path to great performance is a matter of choice.e

Conclusion : 

Conclusion It all comes down to focus. We all have tremendous ability to focus. We must focus on the right thing.

Thank you.Totalgameplan.com : 

Thank you.Totalgameplan.com “Live in the sunshine, swim the sea, drink the wild air.”  ~Ralph Waldo Emerson