Dr. Olivia A Hurley

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Trojan Swimming Club
14/4/2014
Mental Training Primed to Swim
Dr. Olivia A Hurley Institute of Art, Design
Technology (IADT), Dun Laoghaire, Dublin, Ireland
E-mail olivia.hurley_at_iadt.ie Website
www.iadt.ie/ccta Twitter _at_DrOliviaHurley
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Dr. Olivia Hurley Trojan SC 14/4/14
I broke the race down 4 lapsthen another 4and
another 4then a sprint to the finish"
Sonia OSullivan Fail Better, TCD
https//dublin.sciencegallery.com/events/2014/02/r
unnerpsychologyfailingbettersportsoniaosullivanand
ianrobertsonfullybooked
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Dr. Olivia Hurley Trojan SC 14/4/14
Q What is the best advice youve ever been
given? Train as you are going play. Try to
mimic what you are going to do on match days
during the week. Dont train at 70 or 80 percent
and expect the adrenaline to pick you up that
extra 20 per cent come Saturday. Train with that
level of intensity in short bursts during the
week and you will have yourself very ready for
the game. Brian ODriscoll
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Dr. Olivia Hurley Trojan SC 14/4/14
What is Sport Psychology?

• Sport Psychology is applying psychological
  principles in a sporting context.
• Usually working toward enhancing the performance
  of participants.
• Mental aspects of performance fluctuate.
• Q What is inside your control?

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Dr. Olivia Hurley Trojan SC 14/4/14
Mental Skills Training Mental Fitness

• The 3 Cs ??? ....... .......... .........
  
• 2 Key Myths
• Myth 1 Champions born mentally fit/tough
  X ...... made v
• Myth 2 Mental fitness is ..... static
  .....X
• ..... dynamic v

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Dr. Olivia Hurley Trojan SC 14/4/14
Training for Peak Prime Swimming

• Facing Challenges-Mental Strategies
• Mental Maps Motivation - Goals
• Mental Movies Imagery
• Mental Moods Relaxation strategies
• Mental Memories Concentration strategies

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Dr. Olivia Hurley Trojan SC 14/4/14
Swimmers perform the way they practice
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Dr. Olivia Hurley Trojan SC 14/4/14
Q What influences your concentration levels?
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Dr. Olivia Hurley Trojan SC 14/4/14
Building Blocks of Concentration

• Must decide to concentrate
• Can only think of one thought at a time (Park
  Replace)
• Refocus regularly (practice this in training)
• Anxiety upsets focus (practice relaxation tips
  PMR, DB)

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Dr. Olivia Hurley Trojan SC 14/4/14

• Concentrate!!
• .... Why is this comment unhelpful??

• Disco Ball ..... X

• Spotlight / Miner .....

• Challenge Stay Swim Focused

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Dr. Olivia Hurley Trojan SC 14/4/14
Focusing/Coping Techniques 1. Restructure Break
training down into sections. 2. Develop
routines e.g., before each training
session/competition evaluate them-PPRs. 3.
Use your imagination See Feel your
swim. 4. Use trigger words i.e., Glide /
Calm / 1, 2, 3, Breath. 5. Set performance
process goals for yourself. 6. Simulation
training i.e., practice in pool conditions where
there is noise and movement that mimics your
experience on race day.
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Dr. Olivia Hurley Trojan SC 14/4/14
S.M.A.R.T. GoalsOutcome, Performance, Process
Goals

• S Specific
• M Measurable
• A Agreed/Action-based
• R Realistic
• T Time phased/Task focused

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Dr. Olivia Hurley Trojan SC 14/4/14
Coping with Setbacks

• What hurts, instructs (BF).
• In sport, setbacks will happen.
• Learn from the experience....Life and sport goes
  on.
• Focus on improving continue to work hard and
  have fun.

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Dr. Olivia Hurley Trojan SC 14/4/14
Other Practical Tips

• Manageable chunks Set goals around this
  (SMART/SCAMP) (keep a Diary/record write your
  goals down).
• Excellence (not perfection) Develop self-talk to
  match this (use your wall).
• Get to know your thoughts (D).
• Picture the swim Training/Competition day
  (Imagery).
• Relax Rest / Sleep / Be patient.

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Dr. Olivia Hurley Trojan SC 14/4/14
Recommended Texts

• Karageorghis, C.I., Terry, P.C. (2011). Inside
  Sport Psychology. Champaign, IL Human Kinetics.
• Kremer, J. Moran, A. (2013). Pure
• Sport Practical Sport Psychology. London
  Routledge.
• Moran, A. (2012). Sport and Exercise Psychology
  A Critical Introduction. London Routledge.

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Dr. Olivia Hurley Trojan SC 14/4/14
Recommended DVD

• Moran, A. (2009). Learn to concentrate -
• http//www.mindcoolproductions.com/products/conce
  ntrate/

Recommended Website for Swimmers
British Psychological Society (BPS) Going for
Gold http//www.bps.org.uk/going-for-gold The
Psychology of Cycling http//www.stickybottle.com/
coaching/video-the-psychology-of-cycling-are-you-d
oing-all-you-can-to-achieve-your-goals-on-the-bike
/
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Dr. Olivia Hurley Trojan SC 14/4/14
Recommended Online Resources for Parents via
AASP
http//www.appliedsportpsych.org/resource-center/r
esources-for-parents/ http//www.appliedsportpsy
ch.org/site/assets/documents/Critical-Incidents-in
-Sport.pdf http//www.appliedsportpsych.org/site
/assets/documents/Setbacks.pdf
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Dr. Olivia Hurley Trojan SC 14/4/14
Invitation
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Dr. Olivia Hurley Trojan SC 14/4/14

• Certificate in Sport Psychology
• IADT (Level 8 Post-Leaving Cert)
• Part-time - Wednesday evenings (7-9pm)
• 20 weeks Sept 2014 to March 2015
• No exams 2 assignments (Dec March)
• Access to all IADT resources
• Pathway to MSc (UL, UUJ and WIT)

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Dr. Olivia Hurley Trojan SC 14/4/14
Certificate in Sport Psychology IADT (Level 8
Post-Leaving Cert)

• Past students (Members of the Leinster senior
  team, academy and coaching staff Senior
  coaches/members of SI, elite GAA players, elite
  AI athletes, football players and their coaches,
  boxers, elite musicians, parents of promising
  young athletes).
• Approximately 600 euro
• http//www.iadt.ie/en/CurrentStudents/Courses/Facu
  ltyofFilmArtCreativeTechnologies/CertificateinSpor
  tsPsychology/

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Dr. Olivia Hurley Trojan SC 14/4/14
Thank you for your attention Any
Questions?? / Good Luck!!