PUSH 18

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eXperiMent
al
body prepares you to deal with a threat
so blood pressure and heart rate are
increased, sweating is increased,
bloodﬂ ow to the major muscle groups
is increased and immune and digestive
system functions are slowed. Your
skin will probably turn pale; you might
tremble. The release of chemicals
from the adrenal glands – in particular
cortisol – increases blood pressure
and blood sugar, and reduces immune
responses. The effect of this is to allow
you to regain homeostasis (your body’s
stability) after the event and prevents a
total meltdown. ever peed yourself in
a stressful situation? That’s thanks to
cortisol too – it’s a diuretic. Standing in
the goalmouth waiting for a PC to be
taken means your body needs to get
you pumped up for action and as you
know a 70MPH ball may be heading
your way – or worse – you might let
your team down by causing a goal, it’s
Goal-scoring is a natural high – but it can knock you out of the zone
not surprising that many people would
rather let another player do it.
alternatives to a negative word and of the game. But it’s not so good if it
how do I oVerCoMe ProBLeMS? you are halfway there to overcoming throws your game out of kilter. Tips to
No one wants to experience fear and any stress. avoid this include:
stress when they are defending a crucial • Breathe steadily and rhythmically. • When you’re mind is ‘in the zone’
PC. But the very nature of the situation Know where you tend to carry excess you’re more likely to score. However,
means you inevitably will. You need to tension and relax those areas. scoring can snap you out of the zone
remember that that fear and reality are because your mind is no longer
different. Tips include: quiet. When a player is ‘zoning’, their
• Don’t allow yourself to think negative
SITUA
TION T
WO:
conscious mind becomes quiet and
“what if” thoughts. Sure, you may be
SCO
RING A G
OAL
this allows their more powerful
playing the league champions, but eMotIoNS FeLt subconscious mind to run their
you’ve practised hard and have the • euphoria performance on ‘automatic pilot’.
necessary skill set to beat them. The • excitement This allows your strokes to ﬂ ow
fear is in your mind, and really has • Pleasure much easier, effortlessly accessing
nothing at all to do with the reality of power and control in a way that could
the situation. what’S GoING oN IN MY BodY? never be matched by conscious
• Know the difference between the an endorphin rush brings on that feeling thought. This is not to say that your
danger and the subjective fear. It of exhilaration when you score. Beta- body is playing without instruction,
might not be defending the PC endorphin is released into the blood on the contrary, it is simply getting
that scares you, but rather a more (from the pituitary gland) and into the its instructions from a more powerful
specifi c worry that an old injury you spinal cord and brain from hypothalamic and reliable source. The zone is
have might rear its head. Instead neurons. This ‘high’ is probably brought about by learning to allow
of focusing on the “what ifs,” try because endorphins resemble opiates your powerful subconscious to do
to stay focused in the moment and (derivatives of constituents found in your hitting for you, rather than
take things one step at a time. ask opium – synthetic forms of which allowing the busy, chattering mind
yourself if you would be thinking include heroin!). endorphins stimulate to take charge, which it often does.
about this in training. Chances the ‘pleasure centre’ of the brain giving Next time you’re ‘in the zone’ think
are you wouldn’t give your old you a perfectly legal natural high. No about it afterwards and analyse how
injury a second thought. Keep your wonder everyone wants to score a goal! you felt so that when you’re playing
perception clear! next you can try to access this area
a
ge 23
• Think of the PC as a “challenge” how do I oVerCoMe ProBLeMS? more easily. P
or “excitement”. Find more positive Scoring is good. That’s the whole point • Scoring can create a massive amount

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