Guest Blog:
Visualization and Mental Rehearsal in Rodeo- Part I
Golf greats Jack Nicklaus and Arnold Palmer used it. Basketball legend Michael Jordan used it. Bull riding world champion Gary Leffew used it. What scientists call visuo-motor behavior rehearsal seems to be a common thread in victorious athletes of every sport. The term means a form of mental rehearsal using visualization, emotion, and senses to practice and improve performance. An individual using this method to prepare for competition will vividly imagine their event- every smell, every visual detail, every sound. They will step-by-step complete their task in their mind, doing every step perfectly. They will take every possible situation that could happen during the time span of their event and imagine their reaction. They will set their physical arousal: increasing their heart rate and respiration. They will feel what it feels like to succeed.
In every sport there is always a mental and physical aspect. Rodeo is one of the most physically demanding sports there is. But if a cowboy or cowgirl lacks the mental hardiness to stay calm and focused during competition, it doesn’t matter how much raw physical talent they have. They will lose the mental game of rodeo- fighting their head, getting in a rut, and feeling intense negativity. This leads to being broke and burnt out. It seems as though some competitors practice excessively on their physical performance, but have not yet balanced mental preparation. I think everyone will agree rodeo is largely a psychological sport. Lots of people have the sheer strength to flank a calf or wrestle a steer. But few have the mental capacity to do this under extreme pressure with lots of people watching. Those who can perform their tasks and stay calm and focused seem to come out on top.
There are a lot of ways mental rehearsal can help athletes. It is a great way to learn new skills, review before a performance, reduce anxiety, sharpen focus, and analyze technique. But I believe that one of the most important things it does is increase confidence. If you have trained in your mind, you have already done your task successfully. When you are ready perform, you feel more self-assured because you know what is about to happen. To succeed in rodeo is to have an advanced set of skills and to be confident!
An important point to remember in mental rehearsal is that you must visualize the best performance. You must never fail in your practice. Your mental imaging has to be your perfect ride or run. Why practice if you are not going to practice perfectly?
This is the first section of a four part discussion on the effects and use of visuo-motor behavior rehearsal in rodeo. Until next month,
Lesli Furniss
Miss Rodeo Montana 2009
“It is not your aptitude, but your attitude, that will determine your altitude.”
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