Managing Stress

Years of learning methods to load athletes' muscular and neurological systems.  Research into nutrition.  Therapists and coaches with years of schooling and masters and Doctorates.  Planning, training, measuring and monitoring.  All of it, SECONDARY.

All of the training is secondary in importance during Combine preparation.  The primary goals are to MANAGE STRESS AND BUILD CONFIDENCE.

Don't get me wrong, the training is important.  However, its only part of the equation.

1. Great training coupled with stress & confidence problems equals poor performance. 
2. Mediocre training coupled with well managed stress & great confidence equals good performance if they are athletic.
3. Great training coupled with well managed stress & great confidence equals great amd consistent performance.

I shoot for the third.  Managing stress and building confidence influences every decision we make.  Environment, loading, recovery, communication, feedback, and more. 

Today our second group of athletes got in to Indianapolis and the goals generally include acclimating them to the environment and whats coming.  We want to get blood flow and mobility so we use the pool first.  Aquatic exercise is one of our normal recovery modalities in training so they are used to it.  We selected a hotel that has a great small pool to use with a good warm temperature.  Great to get that blood flowing, get hip mobility and release stress.

It releases stress because its familiar.  We do the workout basics, but it also lets them have some fun in the water splashing and having contests of jumping up, holding breath and who can bound across in fewest steps.  The guys have a great time and then folow-up with some stretching or tissue work if needed.

The guys on their second day here (combine day 1 of 4 for them) change the routine a bit. We still need to help their system continue to recover from the training and keep the nervous system tuned.  Some have been sitting around a hospital all day getting medical or lots of time in an MRI.  Mobility, blood flow and nervous system tuning are key.  The biggest thing we are doing with the movements (40 starts, 5-10-5, 3 cone) is reinforcing the process and feel of what they have already learned.

Even with that said, the biggest benefit is often keeping something familiar in this circus environment.  The same coaches, warm-ups, and exercises.  Training is a comfort for most athletes.  It's also a chance to ask questions, share stories with other players and visualize whats coming tomorrow.  Go through your set-up routines, cue words, answer questions, etc... 

You have to make sure your players know what to do so they don't end up stressed.  Coaching athletes in competition has really taught me this.  Know every detail you can and have back-up plans.  Take care of little things like "do you know what time you start tomrrow".  Have them stock up on their MuscleMilk bars and rtds so they are fueled during the day. 

Others times like today it can be running interferences with the hoards of autograph hunters if it stresses your guy.

Bottom line, MANAGE THE STRESS and BUILD THE CONFIDENCE.  If you don't, the rest of the work may go to waste.