Performing under pressure when we are in competitions, events - under pressure as well as being able to remain focused when we are on our own – training remotely has it’s own challenges - without team mates to encourage and support us; no coaches to give us instant direction, feedback or to give us that push that we sometimes need to stay on track. Our ability to continue to perform, train, work hard and prepare comes with its own pressure during this challenging time.

Below is some introductory information from a program called Red2Blue developed by Gazing who have worked with the New Zealand All Blacks, a variety of professional as well as community sports teams, schools, large international corporations, national organisations and many more (details of the coach certification program can be found here). Luke Diaz (High School Sports) attended the program and has been sharing information with both coaches and students at UWCD. Students please feel free to reach out to lukeuwc@uwcsea.edu.sg for further information and support.

Often times the mental aspect of performance in sports as well as other domains is viewed as important but training and development for the mental element is approached in a less systematic and structured manner.

Mindset is a skill and skills can be developed by breaking them down and working to improve them – step by step.

The prime mental element for Performance is ‘Control of Attention’ – where your attention goes your energy follows.

In simplified terms your attention is either

• ON TASK - engaged in the present and focused and connected to what you are doing – called BLUE HEAD

or

• DIVERTED – often times overwhelmed, disconnected and/or stuck in past/future loops – called RED HEAD

Who gets diverted?

Everyone – under pressure everyone has been and can be diverted. You are likely to remember the time you saw professional players get distracted by elements they cannot control (often decisions from referees/officials, poor behaviour from opponents, mistakes they or their team mates made, etc). If you search youtube you will find a variety of examples.

Activity

Take a blank piece of paper the draw 3 circles as above write down as many items as you can for each circle:

• Red - Can't Control (write as many items you can think of that you cannot control)

• Purple - Can Influence (write as many items you can think of that you can influence)

• Blue - Can Control (write as many items you can think of that you can control)

Students - please feel free to contact Luke Diaz - lukeuwc@uwcsea.edu.sg to share the content of your Control Circles and ask questions.