BE PREPARED FOR THE ATTITUDE AND INTENSITY DROP
BE PREPARED FOR THE ATTITUDE AND INTENSITY DROP
Presented By Macka Jensen
Introduction: In the following circumstances; when the team’s desire is to win an event or premiership, or to go back and do it again, then you are suddenly confronted throughout a game or series of games that the team’s attitude and intensity has dropped to a horror of abhorrence. This is an area of being contrite e.g. broken in spirit by a sense of guilt, it’s a case of falling out of the team’s comfort zone; a feeling that all that work seems to have gone down the drain. In retrospect, it may also mean that you have never really prepared for it in your training schedule.
Be prepared: Never switch off the hunger to win, be prepared, it’s a case of knowing how to switch back mentally and physically, setting practical team tasks on the green that demands and conjures them to uplifts their present performance level. Training in conjunction with the coach that involves a motivational trainer willing to conduct preparation and planning through scenario talks and the indoctrination that acts out such situations by emotionally dramatizing such occurrences. Getting them to understand that the good shots they have to play are a tactical motivational requirement with the assistance of their team members that put them there.
Comfort zone: The team’s comfort zone refers to the mental state of ease with freedom from anxiety and the satisfaction of obtaining your desire to win, or being in a state of comfort or ease to win. This comfort zone may be maintained either by;
- Playing skills: Having the ability to overcome the oppositions tactical employment with the ability of your team’s precise and consistent playing skills, or,
- Tactical employment: The use of your team’s tactical employment against the ability of the oppositions playing skills.
Danger zone: As described above, when you are suddenly confronted throughout a game or series of games that the team’s attitude and intensity has dropped to a horror of abhorrence. This is an area of being contrite e.g. broken in spirit by a sense of guilt, it’s a case of falling out of the team’s playing ability e.g. again the playing skills and tactical employment as follows;
- Playing skills: Not having the ability to overcome the oppositions tactical employment with the ability of your team’s inconsistent playing skills, such as attack, defense or recovery,
- Tactical employment: The poor use of your team’s tactical employment against the ability of the oppositions precise and consistent playing skills such as; building the head, back-wood, blocking shots etc.
Adjustments: Training is important, but recovery is essential. It is without question that to achieve an improvement in performance, it is necessary to carry out changes and adjustments in our training. However, for those adjustments to be sufficient, we must take into account how to favor recovery.
Functional deficit: If training is not conducted to counter a drop in attitude and intensity, then many bowlers will incur a functional deficit, and, even thought they are not aware of it, their performance capacity will drop progressively. If their attitude is good, they will continue making a maximum effort, but will have an increasingly smaller base performance.
Fatigue: The different types of fatigue are another area that needs training attention, this is about the therapeutic means that enhance attitude and intensity recovery: Our bodies experiences fatigue at different levels depending on the type of game or event that requires a greater effort by its intensity; its duration, the workout density, environmental conditions, nutrients, and mental predisposition towards the effort. In general area, we can talk about four other types of fatigue which must be prepared for in the training, these are as follows;
- Metabolic fatigue: This is caused basically by the loss of energy substrates, basically glycogen, and liquids, which must be restored during or immediately once we have finished the game or event by ingesting carbon-rich foods and water. The latter may be combined with supplements containing sugars and mineral salts,
- Psychological fatigue: Training or competition may affect the emotional condition of a bowler, others that come to mind are; poor team selection, the family, working or social environment. Self pressure to achieve results in a strong competitive environment may cause serve disorders that do not favor the achievement of positive winning results. Good coaches must strive to protect their bowlers from any disturbing elements which could undermine the team’s confidence, self-esteem, or motivation.
- Nervous fatigue: Nervous fatigue is the consequence of subjecting our neuromuscular system to maximum physical exertions combined with a technical added component which requires maximum concentration and having to make constant, difficult decisions. To recover from that type of fatigue, it is necessary to get good rest. Sleeping is most important, but it is also necessary to learn how to relax ourselves. To favor relaxation, we have at our disposal efficient means such as hydrotherapy, massage, sauna, Turkish baths, or other relaxation techniques such as a good hot bath. These procedures can be applied immediately or the next day particularly after undergoing a series of games.
- Skeletal muscle fatigue: The sport of lawn bowls can cause stress on muscles and joints, specially those of repetitive or cyclic characteristics, and also those which demand strength and energy/endurance. Such activity not only decreases our reserves of energy, but can also cause structural damage e.g. the legs, shoulder and back. Therefore, we must take measures to favor regeneration of tissues and its subsequent strengthening. A carbon and protein-rich diet is essential, as well as taking food supplements which favor our joint health. We can also resort to mild stretching; muscle-relaxing sport massage using hyaluronic acid or mucopolysaccharides based creams, contrast baths, and low-intensity physical activity, all of which may contribute to activate those metabolic resources that our body uses to recover (also see Flexion on this net performanclawnbowls.net or com)
Virus and bacteria: It has been scientifically demonstrated that all of these fatigue situations are provoked by physical overexertion or stress, and cause a decrease in the level of lymphocytes; which may, in turn, cause a weakening of our health defenses, thereby making us more vulnerable to virus or bacteria-caused infections e.g. the common cold, fevers or gastroenteritis. In addition, a low lymphocyte levels is also the cause of a slower and more costly recovery for our body.
“WARNING PREVENTION IS BETTER THAN CURE”
Bowlers with disabilities or health problems should consult their medical practitioner before proceeding with such recovery training.
