Prepare2Perform » sport

World Irish Dancing Championships come to Boston

Ira Martin — Fri, 22 Mar 2013 02:14:03 +0000

Boston’s long, storied connection to the Emerald Isle is about to get even stronger when the World Irish Dancing Championships come to the city for eight days, March 24-31. It marks only the second time in the prestigious international competition’s more than 40-year history that it has been held outside Ireland or Scotland. Organizers say they expect the competition, the largest of the four major international Irish dance events, to draw as many as 20,000 people from across the globe.

For dance fans, the excitement is in the opportunity to see some of the finest Irish dancers in the world. Sponsored by the Irish Dancing Commission (An Coimisiún le Rinci Gaelacha), the World Irish Dancing Championships are the Olympics of the art form, often launching young performers into careers with popular touring shows like “Riverdance” and “Lord of the Dance.”

Coach Knight: Seven Ways Negativity Can Make You a Winner

Ira Martin — Tue, 19 Mar 2013 23:59:12 +0000

I’ve had players I’ve told over and over and over again: No, that is not what we want. The words “no”and “don’t” are important parts of the power of negative thinking. I couldn’t begin to tell you how many times I said to a player: What is there about the word “no” that you don’t understand? What is there about the word “don’t” that you don’t understand?

Don’t and can’t are obviously negative phrases, but putting the words into use can bring very positive results. You have to develop enough common sense to know what you can’t do and focus on what you can. Know your limits. If you can’t do it, don’t, and say so.

Mental Toughness Article

Ira Martin — Tue, 05 Mar 2013 23:53:00 +0000

The importance of mental toughness in elite performance, not just in tennis, but all sport and in life is increasingly recognised. But what exactly is ‘mental toughness’ and how do you get it?

Mental toughness means coping better than opponents with mental demands of sport; being more consistent and better in determination, focus, confidence, and control under pressure.

But a key confusion is to mistake stoicism and toughness – stoicism is the Victorian inhibition of emotions, particularly any sign of vulnerability or weakness. Victoria Azarenka when she won championship point at the Australian Open, sobbed dramatically – anyone who has seen Novak Djokovic pound his racket into submission on the court floor, would not see him as ‘unemotional’. The dramatic displays of release of emotion after victory, or defeat, in these champions indicate just how much there is pent up on the inside, and the astonishing level of control being exerted.

The key distinction is that the mentally tough can self-regulate: controlling impulses and emotions. They have superior self-confidence, appraisal of achievements, self-esteem, having a sense of purpose and contribution, self-efficacy, belief in abilities and strengths, and also self-control belief in control of one’s life: captain of your ship and master of your fate.

Sox Focus On Mental Skills

Ira Martin — Fri, 15 Feb 2013 04:00:18 +0000

New Red Sox manager John Farrell has added mental skills class to the team’s schedule in Spring Training.

“Personally, I’m a huge believer in the mental side of the game. We spend so much time on the field,” Farrell said. “We spend so much time in the weight room, and sometimes what gets neglected most is what goes on up here. When we have a resource such as Tewks, to not use it, we’re not giving the players everything that they can take advantage of. His role has been expanded. He’ll be with us about 85 days this year and more of those on the road.”

See Full Article Here.

Marines studying mindfulness-based training: Pushups For the Brain

Ira Martin — Wed, 23 Jan 2013 04:08:00 +0000

The U.S. Marine Corps, known for turning out some of the military’s toughest warriors, is studying how to make its troops even tougher through meditative practices, yoga-type stretching and exercises based on mindfulness.

Marine Corps officials say they will build a curriculum that would integrate mindfulness-based techniques into their training if they see positive results from a pilot project. Mindfulness is a Buddhist-inspired concept that emphasizes active attention on the moment to keep the mind in the present.

Facing a record suicide rate and thousands of veterans seeking treatment for post-traumatic stress, the military has been searching for ways to reduce strains on service members burdened with more than a decade of fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Marine Corps officials are testing a series of brain calming exercises called “Mindfulness-Based Mind Fitness Training” that they believe could enhance the performance of troops, who are under mounting pressures from long deployments and looming budget cuts expected to slim down forces.

Click here to read more

Images of Brain Injuries in Athletes

Ira Martin — Thu, 10 Jan 2013 00:17:51 +0000

A new study of 85 people who had a history of repeated mild head traumas found that 68 of them, nearly all of whom played sports, had evidence of chronic traumatic encephalopathy, a degenerative and incurable disease whose symptoms can include memory loss, depression and dementia.

The photographs from the athletes in the study, illustrate the deterioration of the brain that can be caused by C.T.E.

Follow this link to see the pictures.