<Peak Level> When Training Harder Isn’t Working
Finding The Love of Sport Can Set You Free
Hello Team,
Hearing the words of an athlete; I'm stuck; the harder I train, the more I push the worse things seem to get for me.
I know I’m capable and can achieve more, yet I can’t seem to improve my times.
I won’t make selection for the up and coming games, and miss out on representing my Country.
I’m not enjoying it anymore, this will be my last event, I’m done and I’m tired of all this.....
Fighting their way through the problem,wasn’t working.
Caught in the trap of results.
I shared a personal story of mine and where my love of sport started.
I grew up at a time when a Nation was in love with the game of rugby.
Our dad’s wearing red scarves and bobble caps. Walking and singing to catch the bus to Cardiff or to the clubhouse to watch Wales play.
It was a religion and my love of the game started with a dream of playing for Wales one day, like every boy in my school class.
My mates and I would play on a patch of grass behind a chapel, that we called our pitch. I would run from home full of excitement in the anticipation to play.
We would place our hoodies and tracksuit tops down to make try lines, choose teams and the games would begin. It could be raining, snowing, or sunny, it didn’t matter, we would play for hours.
We played for Wales every time we played on our pitch.
We were super competitive and I loved the feel of the ball in my hands. The feeling of making a tackle and getting the ball back.
I loved seeing good play, it didn’t matter to me who did it.
I was happiest being on the pitch.
On Sunday’s we would play for the local team and I remember our first tournament, we won and didn’t even know it.
It felt like we were back behind the chapel experiencing the joy of the game.
Jumping back to the athlete:
We discussed about when they first fell in love with their sport.
Exploring what their sport meant to them and how it made them FEEL.
The memory started to bring a glint in the eye.
It didn’t take long before the meanings of why they do what they do came through. The joy and satisfaction written all over their face.
The athlete had decoupled themselves from the results.
Free to explore what’s possible with a new sense of freedom.
The results improved, they got to represent their Country, and were happier in and out of their sport.
It’s an inside out job, and your love of the sport and why you perform is in your control
My hope is that this will help you connect to your love of the game/sport. How it FELT for you and the freedom and space it can create.
The effect is profound and has proven itself time and time again no matter what your craft or field of play.
Let me know how you get on?
I’m excited for you….and in your corner
Coach Damo