Modeling
the Fast Women of Racing
by Marie Dalloway, Ph.D.
Mental training for creating greater pressure-handling
ability follows a logic for developing other mental traits
that enhance performance: Model the methods of the great
ones in sports. One of the most effective methods for
creating change is modeling.
Modeling involves finding individuals who are excellent
at what they do and discovering the mental processes they
use to produce excellent results consistently. Based on
what is discovered, training programs are established
to teach others how to duplicate the processes that top
performers use.
For developing greater pressure-handling ability, we need
to examine individuals who are excellent at handling risk
and pressure. The fast women of race car driving, those
who are the best at handling pressure and risk, become
the models. Drivers, such as Shari Minter, the NASCAR
Sportsman Division and ARCA SuperCar Series Driver; the
fearless Andrea Kasiewiez, Sports 2000, SCCA 1996 National
Champion; and Margie Smith-Hass, ACRL National Champion,
become the models in terms of the mental processes they
use under pressure.
The question is, What do they do mentally that allows
them to perform so well under pressure. Those who are
excellent at managing stress follow a sequence of emotional
and mental events or processes. A map is needed of that
sequence of events. Similar to a regular map, it shows
the way for others to follow to perform under pressure.
Differences Between Good and Poor Pressure Performers
Under pressure, good pressure performers and poor pressure
performers differ in two main ways. Top performers in
sports under conditions of pressure operate in a peak
stress state. Top achievers experience the pressure as
challenge and they move into their peak stress state,
the energetic state of activation and intensity at which
they perform their best.
Stress refers to the physical, energetic state of activation
in the body. It is the physical intensity level. The level
of stress or activation can vary from deep sleep to intense
excitement. The idea of peak activation level is that
for every skill there is an optimal level of activation,
a level that corresponds to a maximum performance level.
The peak stress state is the level of energy and intensity
that relates to an athlete's best performance level. Top
achievers in sports operate in or near to their peak stress
level in pressure situations.
Poor pressure performers when faced with pressure points
operate outside of their peak stress state. They may be
flat and below their peak level. Or, they may be overstressed
and in a state of too much energy and activation.
The second difference between good pressure performers
and poor pressure performers centers on the mental/emotional
state that occurs under pressure. The mind of a champion
under conditions of pressure focuses on thoughts and feelings
that are neutral or positive and that create a mental/emotional
state of being psyched up and challenged. The mental/emotional
state is characterized by a sense of challenge and thoughts
such as, "This is it." "Now is my chance." "Now I can
show what I can do." "This is my opportunity."
Pressure and demand trigger the stress system in the body.
This means that under conditions of pressure, the physical
stress or activation level rises. Top performers can experience
this increase in stress level without experiencing negative
mental reactions such as, fear, worry or anxiety. Even
when their stress or activation level goes into a high
range of intensity, top performers experience virtually
no negative mental effects. It is as though high achievers
channel the increased energy and activation in a way that
heightens their competitiveness and their performance
and that avoids the negative emotional reactions.
In contrast, the poor pressure performer under conditions
of pressure experiences fear, worry and anxiety. These
negative mental reactions hurt performance. They interfere
with performance because they create mental confusion,
forgetfulness and loss of focus. The interference with
performance is compounded because fear, worry and anxiety
increase the physical stress or activation level and usually
work to drive an athlete out of his or her quality performance
state.
Differences Between Good and Poor Pressure Performers
Become Mental Training Objectives
Modeling means improving performance by duplicating the
processes of the top performers. The distinctions between
the good and the poor pressure performers point out what
become the objectives for the mental training program
for increasing the ability to deal with pressure.
The two main differences between good pressure performers
and poor pressure performers involve being in a peak stress
state and having a mental/emotional state of challenge
with an absence of feelings related to fear worry or anxiety.
These two differences are the two results that poor pressure
performers need to achieve to duplicate the good pressure
performers.
There are a number of mental techniques that assist you
in regulating your activation level and in eliminating
disruptive mental reactions to pressure.
To regulate your stress level requires learning relaxation
training techniques (such as biofeedback training, progressive
relaxation, breathing techniques, and autogenic training)
and psyching up procedures (such as physical workouts,
use of affirmations, and goal setting) are aimed at altering
your stress level. The relaxation methods train you to
decrease your stress level. The psyching up procedures
train you to increase your stress or activation level.
Performing well under pressure also involves responding
to pressure without worry and anxiety. This requires eliminating
thoughts and feelings related to fear, worry or anxiety
and creating a mental/emotional state of being focused
and feeling challenged. The mental training methods for
reaching a state without worry and anxiety include simulated
match training, pressure training in practices, pre-competition
plans, and controlling internal dialogue.
The aim in high risk sports is to experience the right
amount of stress to gear you up to perform at your best
level without the negative effects of fear, worry and
anxiety. All of the methods in this program are designed
to assist you in achieving this aim. You want to have
the charged up feeling of readiness and activation without
the distress of worry, anxiety, and over-activation. Learning
to overcome the negative effects of pressure means being
able to operate in a peak stress state and to be free
of fear or worry under conditions of pressure.
Copyright © 2000 By Marie Dalloway All
Rights Reserved
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“Athletes at all levels need to know that performance enhancing
mental skills are natural, simple, and easy to learn. This area presented
so well by Marie Dalloway is the path of the future in self-improvement
athletic programs.”
Ted Goodrich, Director,
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