Performing in The Zone in Youth Sports
Did you know that kids can train their brains to get into the best possible zone for performing?
Read on, and you’ll get some fascinating tips from Dr. Diane Stoler, a neuropsychologist and author.
There are a number of ways to change brain frequencies in ways that help athletes focus and stay calm, she says. One of the simplest and most effective ways to do this is through a breathing technique.
You can teach your kids how to control their heart rates and the part of the brain that’s in charge of the “fight or flight” response that prompts anxiety.
Here’s how, says Stoler: Tell kids to breathe in through their noses for five seconds, then exhale through their mouths—as if they’re blowing out candles—for six seconds. Have them do this until they feel calmer.
If this doesn’t work, try self-hypnosis, she suggests. It’s actually a fancy name for visualization.
The goal here is to help kids avoid over-thinking, which is a real mental game no-no. You want them to focus, stay calm, and rely on their instincts and react intuitively to what’s going on around them.
Have your sports kids try this before a game or performance: Take the deep breaths we discussed above and imagine they’re on a beach listening to the water ebb and flow.
They should notice that their muscles are starting to relax. They should focus only on their breathing, the positive memory of the ocean, and feeling their muscles relax.
Once they’ve mastered this technique, they can also recall this positive, calming feeling during a game when they’re starting to feel anxious.
Listen to the podcast here:
Related Articles on Kids’ Mental Game:
- Helping Kids Get Out of Their Comfort Zone
- Helping Kids Find the All-Elusive Zone
- Why Kids Choke Under Pressure
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