“Discipline is a part of the will,” Lombardi said. I would say that mental discipline is the umbrella that covers “the will” and just about everything else related to “the mental game.” An athlete can develop the ability to effectively and consistently direct his mind by disciplining it. Courage in battle takes discipline, concentration takes discipline, preparation, self-coaching, consistency, the breaking of bad habit through the development of good ones are all under the umbrella. Or, to use some athletes’ more palatable metaphor, mental discipline is “the whole enchilada.” An athlete who hopes to perform at his highest level of physical ability must develop an insistent discipline of the mind.
Scientist Louis Pasteur attributed his success not to his brain, but to his “tenacity.” It is this tenacious approach that truly distinguishes a great competitor from a mediocre one.
The American Heritage Dictionary defines discipline as “training that is expected to produce a specified character or pattern of behavior, especially that which is expected to produce moral or mental improvement.”
Mental discipline, for my purposes here, can be defined as the ability to sustain effective and consistent focus on task, regardless of potential external and internal distractions. This is accomplished through controlled attention to relevant information and cures, followed by appropriately controlled behavior.
The athlete knows what direction he wants to take and how to take it. Now he discipline himself to take it. He controls his mind; he disciplines it.
The cycle of control.
Of course there will be many external and internal challengers. The extent of the discipline applied will determine the success the athlete has in executing his task effectively. Mental discipline requires great effort. It it’s worth having, it’s worth that effort. An unyielding persistence is part of the discipline. It will ultimately allow the athlete to focus on his task in the toughest of times.
In June 1998, en route to the Chicago Bulls second “three-peat” of the decade, Michael Jordan noted that fans and critics has expressed concern about the Bulls’ “physical tiredness” during the finals against Utah. “You don’t become champions five times without having some type of mental advantages. Right now, we are mentally strong enough to defend what we have . . . . The mental side counts for something.” It counted for plenty. It helped them become champions for the sixth time, though Jordan felt the Bulls “may not be a gifted [as Utah].” The discipline was in playing with focus on function, rather than on fatigue or the perceived “physical gifts” of the opposition. After all was said and done, that was playing “tough.”
After having played his final hole in the Andersen Consulting Match-Play Tournament in February 1999, Tiger Wood spoke of being “men=tally fried.” Said Woods, “I know what I have to do, I focus on that. But as soon as it is over, then you feel it. “Those who work on it, feel it. Feel what the poet Dante called ”tutta spenta” – entirely extinguished. And proud of the effort that kept the flame burning during competition.
The coach addresses the mental game by teaching the athlete to:
Scientist Louis Pasteur attributed his success not to his brain, but to his “tenacity.” It is this tenacious approach that truly distinguishes a great competitor from a mediocre one.
The American Heritage Dictionary defines discipline as “training that is expected to produce a specified character or pattern of behavior, especially that which is expected to produce moral or mental improvement.”
Mental discipline, for my purposes here, can be defined as the ability to sustain effective and consistent focus on task, regardless of potential external and internal distractions. This is accomplished through controlled attention to relevant information and cures, followed by appropriately controlled behavior.
The athlete knows what direction he wants to take and how to take it. Now he discipline himself to take it. He controls his mind; he disciplines it.
The cycle of control.
- Control through awareness: The control of the ability to recognize and evaluate what the athlete is thinking, feeling, and doing – and what is happening to him. This control gives him the understanding of where his attention is directed and, if it’s not where he wants it to be, the reason it isn’t. He is then able to follow the cues he knows that help him concentration on task.
- Control through thoughts: This control is exerted after concentration has broken down or has been “given a break.” These thoughts should be rational and relevant to the task of the moment. They redirect the athlete’s focus.
- Control through self-coaching (self task): If the quality of the athlete’s thoughts has deteriorated, he controls the words he speaks to himself – internally or externally. These words are directives to get him back to a general positive attitude and to concentration on positive function.
- Control through behavior: This control is of physical behavior, guided by rational, rather then emotional, directives; the “final instructions” provided by self-task. Examples: “See the ball.” “Be easy.” “Find the open man.” “Stay low.” Regardless of how he feels, the athlete acts out of what he knows, what he’s been reminded of. After that action, he’s assesses his body’s behavior – and the language that directed it. He comes full cycle and anticipates greater success in the next cycle.
Of course there will be many external and internal challengers. The extent of the discipline applied will determine the success the athlete has in executing his task effectively. Mental discipline requires great effort. It it’s worth having, it’s worth that effort. An unyielding persistence is part of the discipline. It will ultimately allow the athlete to focus on his task in the toughest of times.
In June 1998, en route to the Chicago Bulls second “three-peat” of the decade, Michael Jordan noted that fans and critics has expressed concern about the Bulls’ “physical tiredness” during the finals against Utah. “You don’t become champions five times without having some type of mental advantages. Right now, we are mentally strong enough to defend what we have . . . . The mental side counts for something.” It counted for plenty. It helped them become champions for the sixth time, though Jordan felt the Bulls “may not be a gifted [as Utah].” The discipline was in playing with focus on function, rather than on fatigue or the perceived “physical gifts” of the opposition. After all was said and done, that was playing “tough.”
After having played his final hole in the Andersen Consulting Match-Play Tournament in February 1999, Tiger Wood spoke of being “men=tally fried.” Said Woods, “I know what I have to do, I focus on that. But as soon as it is over, then you feel it. “Those who work on it, feel it. Feel what the poet Dante called ”tutta spenta” – entirely extinguished. And proud of the effort that kept the flame burning during competition.
The coach addresses the mental game by teaching the athlete to:
- • Understanding that by developing effective mental discipline he is learning to control the emotions, thoughts, and behavior that would, if uncontrolled, be distraction during performance.
- • Recognize that mental discipline addresses whatever distractions or behavior tendencies amy adversely affect him before, during, or after competition.
- • Know that this identification is prerequisite for the process of self-improvement and includes eating habits, sleeping patterns, and conditioning.
- • Be aware also of the more subtle “weaknesses” that inhibit performance, such as lax practice habits, being less attentive when his team is far ahead or far behind in score, not being mentally prepared for a game which seemingly has less or little importance.
- • Understanding that the process of developing metal discipline is an ongoing and demanding ordeal, requiring mental energy and stamina, as well as the expression of will power.
- • Set as a goal the mastery of individual mental skills he wishes to work on daily, knowing that a goal is a promise, but self – discipline is keeping it.
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