[FASTLARRY]

Emotional intelligence

Is a very important aspect to possess in the world of athletics?
It is the ability to maintain control, despite the burden of tremendous pressures and expectations.
One of the common threads that linked the careers of Tiger Woods, Michael Jordan, and Wayne Gretzky, was their shared ability to maintain control, despite the tremendous pressures they faced. A simple term fro this control is emotional intelligence. It is the ability to use emotions effectively; emotional intelligence is absolutely necessary when athletes are asked to carry the burden of tremendous expectations. Gretzky's nickname, The Great One, is an indication of the expectation he confronted every time he stepped onto the ice. The pressure on Michael Jordan and on Tiger Woods was similarly intense.
In addition to the task of managing pressure, emotional intelligence allows these three athletic superstars to be efficient and effective while competing. With a remarkable gift for scoring goals, and owning nearly every scoring record in NHL history, Gretzky was remarkably efficient while playing. He never appeared flustered or out of control, despite his intensity. Similarly, Jordan and Woods are both tremendously focused despite environments that would distract almost anyone else.
In Wood's recent record victories at the U.S. and British Opens, he awed his opponents with his focus and control. One example of this control is patience’s and restraint beyond his years. Imagine being able to hit a golf ball further than virtually every other professional, but choosing to hit a short safe shot instead because you know that the key to winning is avoiding mistakes rather than taking chances. This type of self-restraint is a sign of emotional intelligence; it takes great mental discipline and a talent that requires work to achieve.
Michael Jordan developed emotional intelligence over time, learning when to attack and when to be patient. By the end of his career, Jordan learned to save his best performance for the most important moments at the end of the game - for the win. This consistent ability to remain in control and act decisively when it counted led Jordan's teammate Luc Longley to describe him with one word, "Predator!"
Training Tip
Emotional self-control is the key to competitive success. Great athletes know when to act and when to be patient. Controlling fear, anger, frustration and confidence is an athlete’s responsibility, and you should work as hard on emotional intelligence as on the physical part of your sport. It doesn't matter if you are in a bad or unfair situation or if you are under real pressure. You may not be able to change your environment, but you can change your response to it. This is your job, and no one else's.
Coaching Point
As a coach you can help athletes develop emotional intelligence by acknowledging that a situation is tough, but emphasizing that there are many ways to respond. Ask the athlete to develop two responses, one that helps and one that hurts performance. Ask them to make a choice; don't do it for them. Your job is to control as much of the environment as possible and model positive responses to the things you can't control. It helps if coaches work regularly to enhance their own emotional intelligence!
Emotional intelligence is a very important aspect to possess in the world of athletics.
It is the ability to maintain control, despite the burden of tremendous pressures and expectations.
One of the common threads that linked the careers of Tiger Woods, Michael Jordan, and Wayne Gretzky, was their shared ability to maintain control, despite the tremendous pressures they faced. A simple term fro this control is emotional intelligence. It is the ability to use emotions effectively; emotional intelligence is absolutely necessary when athletes are asked to carry the burden of tremendous expectations. Gretzky's nickname, The Great One, is an indication of the expectation he confronted every time he stepped onto the ice. The pressure on Michael Jordan and on Tiger Woods was similarly intense.
In addition to the task of managing pressure, emotional intelligence allows these three athletic superstars to be efficient and effective while competing. With a remarkable gift for scoring goals, and owning nearly every scoring record in NHL history, Gretzky was remarkably efficient while playing. He never appeared flustered or out of control, despite his intensity. Similarly, Jordan and Woods are both tremendously focused despite environments that would distract almost anyone else.
In Wood's recent record victories at the U.S. and British Opens, he awed his opponents with his focus and control. One example of this control is patience’s and restraint beyond his years. Imagine being able to hit a golf ball further than virtually every other professional, but choosing to hit a short safe shot instead because you know that the key to winning is avoiding mistakes rather than taking chances. This type of self-restraint is a sign of emotional intelligence; it takes great mental discipline and a talent that requires work to achieve.
Michael Jordan developed emotional intelligence over time, learning when to attack and when to be patient. By the end of his career, Jordan learned to save his best performance for the most important moments at the end of the game - for the win. This consistent ability to remain in control and act decisively when it counted led Jordan's teammate Luc Longley to describe him with one word, "Predator!"
Training Tip
Emotional self-control is the key to competitive success. Great athletes know when to act and when to be patient. Controlling fear, anger, frustration and confidence is an athlete’s responsibility, and you should work as hard on emotional intelligence as on the physical part of your sport. It doesn't matter if you are in a bad or unfair situation or if you are under real pressure. You may not be able to change your environment, but you can change your response to it. This is your job, and no one else's.
Coaching Point
As a coach you can help athletes develop emotional intelligence by acknowledging that a situation is tough, but emphasizing that there are many ways to respond. Ask the athlete to develop two responses, one that helps and one that hurts performance. Ask them to make a choice; don't do it for them. Your job is to control as much of the environment as possible and model positive responses to the things you can't control. It helps if coaches work regularly to enhance their own emotional intelligence!

[BangDaBoom]

This is a cool article, I need to study it, you know when I lose, I now realize I begin to lose control of damn near everything around me.

[paco1076]

Now that you have seen the truth in that, the next step is to know why you lose control of everything around you... Is it because someone else is in control of it? Is it because you never had control? Is it because you gave someone else control? Or is it because no one controls their environment? Just some questions to ponder.

Good luck.
Craig

[pooh]

Control ur emotions or they control you.

Cheers

[paco1076]

Exactly...

You want to accept that you can't control what is going on around you, but you can control what your reactions are going to be.

We all must claim responsibility for our own actions and reactions before we can hope to gain control over our own minds.

Craig