Centring
Anxiety causes a response
both
Physiologically (body)
Psychologically (mind)
Physiological responses
Increased heart rate
Increased breathing
rate
Muscle tension
sweating
Psychological responses
Create negative thoughts which causes anxiety which leads to more negative thoughts. This cycle intensifies until
Cannot think at all
Poor concentratio
n
Poor decision making
Feelings of being out of
control
Centring allows an athlete to
Reduce anxiety levels before &
during performance
Refocus and gain control of their thoughts
Techniques to have a relaxing effect on the body
Breathe deeply & slowly with knees bent
Bending knees reduces locking of knees which is a result of anxiety
Focus attention on abdomen
Centres thoughts on body’s centre
of gravity
Increases sense of balance and
control
Centring can be used at a
critical time of a game
Five slow deep breaths to
refocus
Between restarts
Between breaks
During substitution
During a slow period / down
time