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Peak Performance
Myths
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Myth 1:
Things will get worse before they get better.
Many training approaches and/or trainers indicate right at the outset that the student will see diminished performance initially and greater performance once he has fully learned and implemented the new technique or strategy.
It is true that the notion of a learning curve exists, but saying that there will be a learning curve has both a risk and a benefit. The risk is that, by saying it, you will make it true.
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| Coaches Have Their Say |
 "I have been involved with several of Bob Palmer's workshops. His warm disarming style puts everyone at ease while also keeping them on the edge of their seat with interest and anticipation.
It's exciting to see the eyes and faces of the participants light up when they first experience that 'In the Zone' feel."
~ Don Kwasnycia, Skeet Coach, Past Canadian Champion and Olympian, Ontario
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| About SportExcel |
Athletes, Coaches and Teams throughout Canada and the United States have benefited from the SportExcel Program.
We offer one-on-one training via telephone or in-person. We also offer small group sessions and workshops at your training center or by teleconference.
1-877-967-5747
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| May, 2010 - Volume 15, Issue 3 |
"Athletes will always make mistakes. The key to coaching success is to celebrate mistake recovery so that athletes retain their emotional high and learn from their mistakes".
~ Bob Palmer
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Summer sports are in full swing, from triathlons to baseball to the clay target sports. And the one interesting and dynamic aspect about summer sports is often the unpredictable weather. Wind, rain, sun, cloud, or a mixture of them that changes every five minutes, makes for some interesting challenges to baseball pitchers, runners and clay target shooters to name a few.
In a recent session with a client who had just come away from a cold and rainy competition, he noted how he had rather enjoyed it and hardly noticed the rain, except that some of the squads were a bit sparse with several competitors pulling up stakes and departing for home.
What made him feel good about rain as compared to his competitors? Logically he understood that his competitors were competing under the same conditions as he was, so that may have helped a little. But his competitors probably understood that as well, and research shows that the unconscious mind responds poorly to logic.
So, instead, he had taught his unconscious mind to enjoy rain. With one easy-to-learn strategy, he changed the feelings he got on rainy days into the feelings he got on sunny days. And it probably took all of about 5 minutes. Plus, he now owns the strategy and can change his perspective of anything--venue, new equipment, size of targets, etc. (I even have kids changing their often negative perspective about reading books.)
If you are struggling because of the weather (or any reason), let me help you to transform your game.
Have a great summer! Bob Palmer |
#1 Rule in Coaching
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If I Stay in the Zone, My Athletes Will
 What are young athletes to do? When in their short lives have they developed the resources required to thrive on pressure?
When have they had opportunity to learn how to confidently deal with intimidation?
When have they had the opportunity to learn the skills to handle defeat or pain or not making the cut or not getting played? When? Never, so we need to help them through this developmental time in their careers.
As coaches we have to draw on our own skills and strategies so that we can model the kinds of behaviors we expect of athletes. Remember--and we often forget this--competition is wholly new to young athletes and whatever impression it makes on them can last their entire lives. Read more |
| Psychology or Education? |
Over many years of working with athletes and writing articles, I often get asked why my program is better than any  other program. Or, why I think I'm a substitute for sport psychologists.
Simply, my program is a different approach to performance, not necessarily better. Whereas psychologists tend to be fixers of problems, I'm an educator (B.Ed) and I teach the sport specific strategies of peak performers.
As an educator, I'm similar
to my math colleagues who teach math strategies. Instead of
equations, I teach mental processing strategies that help athletes to get their
brains to be more effective and efficient. Here are five points that
define my educational approach:
Read more
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You Asked |
How do I Stop Bullying (Intimidation)?
 With the new Karate Kid movie coming out, martial arts clubs are promoting anti-bullying programs.
This coincides with governments that are passing legislation to enable teachers to apprehend the bullies on the playground. Both approaches are needed, but the martial arts clubs have it right. An anti-bullying program needs to start with the empowerment of the individual, in respect to sports, personal and domestic intimidation.
An empowered athlete--whether he or she gains that power from karate, weight training, wrestling, acting brave--walks with graceful and powerful strides and is less likely to be a target. Bullies want victims. Victims have a posture that can be read a mile away.
I teach an exercise called Walking with Grace and Power that you can practice in your locker room, bedroom or boardroom, by walking quickly back and forth and noticing and maintaining your posture.
As you walk, THINK ABOUT YOUR BULLY (INTIMIDATION) PROBLEM. Learn to maintain your powerful walk (while thinking of your problem,) and your fear should begin to diminish. The idea here is to have your new powerful way of walking instill doubt in the mind of the bully so he leaves you alone. |
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