Peak performance starts in the mind
Photo by Michael Clapp
fudy Foster (1.) and Kay Porter help accentuate the psychological as well as physical factors impor
tant in peak athletic performance.
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By Marilyn Osgood-Knight
Of the Emerald
The room was familiar, the
sounds quietly melodic. She felt
her breathing deepen as her
body sank back into the chair.
After reaching an alpha state of
consciousness, the University
varsity track athlete began call
ing up her private video screen
ing. What she saw and ex
perienced would have impor
tant psychological and
physiological ramifications in
future competition.
Welcome to the world of men
tal training for peak perfor
mance. also known as creative
visualization, mental rehearsal,
pregame meditation or instant
preplay. This technique is being
used increasingly at the Univer
sity, both by varsity athletes and
recreational sports buffs.
For 15 or 20 minutes several
times a week, an athlete relaxes
his or her body and “practices”
a specific sport .mentally, im
agining success and perfect
form. In addition to improving
performance, advocates say
mental training can improve
concentration and increase
awareness of body position. It
can also quicken the speed of
learning new skills, restore
energy, remove psychological
blocks, improve relations bet
ween teammates and coaches,
expedite the healing process,
and heighten enjoyment of a
favorite sport.
And expensive equipment or
long-term training aren't
necessary to learn the process,
accord ing to University
graduates. Kay Porter and Judy
Foster, who have joined forces
to work in the field of sports and
organizational psychology
under the business name Porter
Foster.
“You don’t have to be sick to
get better,” notes Porter. “The
days of ‘head cases’ are over.
Sports psychology works to im
prove performance from a
positive viewpoint. It’s positive
self-talk replacing negative
imagery.”
Porter, who was a professor at
the University’s Center for
Gerontology for eight years,
holds a Ph.D. in human
developmental psychology. A
marathon runner herself, she
has conducted five studies on
the psychological aspects of
older female runners, and has
been published nationally.
Judy Foster is a writer/artist
with a degree in creative
writing. She has used creative
visualization techniques in her
work since 1969.
The women work as equal
partners, and again this year
donated in-kind contributions
of their services to the Duck
Athletic Fund, to be used by
varsity sports such as women’s
track and tennis teams. Porter
Foster also is presenting a group
clinic to the women's gym
nastics team, both men’s and
women’s swim teams, and has
made contact with ‘‘about 14
University sports this year."
They also provide individual
mental training sessions for a
fee (two or three appointments
are needed).
‘‘Mental training includes
goal setting, positive self
statements, plans for altering
negative self-talk during com
petition, relaxation techniques,
creative visualization and men
tal rehearsal skills.says
Foster. "We train athletes to
analyze their, individual perfor-,
mances. W'e show them how to
look for ways to better their
natural abilities from the
psychological perspective.” .
There is a physical reason
why such mental practice.
works, says Porter. As an
athlete imagines herself practic- •
ing a sport, her neurons fire in
exactly the same patterns as if '
she were performing physical- '
ly. Small contractions also take
place in the associated, muscle. .
groups, she explains.- These
movements of nerves and
musclesare thought,to improve
neuromuscular coordination.1
which in turn improves perfor
mance.
The first step in mental train
ing for peak performance, says
Foster, “is figuring out what
you want, what your short and
long-term goals will he." If an
athlete wants to lower his or her
golf handicap, or increase
“winnability” in age-division
road races, Foster says to “put it
down on paper as specifically as
possible. Committing yourself
to a target date is vital, too.”
One University student
prepared for the' September
Nike/OTC Marathon with Porter
Foster’s help. Mentally, the stu
dent practiced the 26.2-mile run
repeatedly for three weeks
before the race in addition to
her physical workouts.
Continued on Page 7B
Staff
Sidelines is the Emerald's weekly sports supplement publish
ed each Wednesday except during exam weeks and vacation.
Editor.Sheila Landry
Copy Editor..Mike Sims
Cover Photo.Brian Ballou
Production.Lauri Neely
Photo Technicians.Hank Trotter. Ross Martin
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