Cognitive Ultimate III

Everyone talks about the mental game in athletics. What can it really do for you and what can be considered part of that mental game?

Originally my post was going to be about the importance of a mental game to winning. Then I started to realize that the mental game was much bigger than I had originally thought. I will discuss my original notions of what the mental game consists of and can do, and then will delve into further notions of cognitive ultimate.

Decision making can define a game. Your star players are only going to sky the other guy so many times until you start to pay for that poor decision. You will only get so many chances to make up for your bad dump pass that led to a break. The ability to stay focused and consistently make the right decision will usually weigh heavily on the outcome of a game. You need to prepare yourself to make the smart choice on each throw, focus on every mark, and instinctually evaluate each situation (what stall count am I on? what are my options? where is my defender in relation to the disc? how can I position myself to get the disc?).

I've always thought that the concept of the physical vs. mental was very interesting. More specifically, that when two teams of equal skill level and athletic ability face off, the smarter and more focused team will win. In many games skills are a wash and both teams are set to even in their physical abilities. Also, in many games the difference in physical ability is small enough to be overcome. If you have a team that makes the smarter decisions, plays with more field awareness, and is more mentally prepared going into a game, then they have a great intangible advantage. This intangible advantage can consistently win them games against equally matched teams or can make up the difference against a more physically skilled team. The defense can't just be content to say that they got the D, because if there was an errant huck that lost possession of the disc then it makes no difference. The team that holds possession after their D, makes the smart throw at the right time, and gets the break, will be the ones with the important mental advantage.

As I was thinking about the mental aspects of athletics as they relate to ultimate, I started to realize that the mental game was bigger than just on the field stuff (awareness, decision making, etc.). To truly develop a comprehensive mental game, I think there are many other things a player must do. Here's a short list of some of those things:

- Work out and work hard when no one's watching. It takes determination to get off the couch and condition. However, it's not good enough to just work out, you need to work out hard. It is easy to finish a work out early when you're by yourself. You need to be going harder, faster, and longer than your opponents. Doing this alone takes strength, focus, and internal motivation; not everyone has this and it shows on the field. It separates players.

- Taking the right care of your body. Treating your injuries properly (whether that's resting yourself or playing through them). Stretching properly before and after training. Eating right before and after competition. Properly hydrating and replenshing to maximize performance. A mistreated injury, poor nutrition around gametime, or dehydration can lead to many mental errors and poor decisions on the field.

- Being responsible to the team. Attending practice and tournaments consistently. Being punctual. Working hard. How you practice, how you play, and how you train shows everyone else how hard you want them working. Do you go through the motions or do you make your time practicing/playing constructive? Are each drill, each point you play, and each throw important to you? Do you make them matter when you're doing them? Being dedicated, improving, and working hard fosters a mental cohesiveness that can bond teams together. Everyone working on the same page, towards the same goal is a huge boost.

I think the mental game extends to areas such as these, and beyond. It encompasses so many aspects of preparation and in game skills. Thoughts on other things that can/should be included on this list?

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