Teachable Moment: Arousal

We all know what it's like to pump ourselves up for a big game. Being able to get into our optimal zone can make a huge difference to our performance. Pumping ourselves up is a neurological experience led by our brain. It consists of activating adrenaline and the stress hormone, cortisol, through the 'fight or flight' system. Adrenaline and cortisol engage our muscles, change our oxygen intake, focus our brain on the goal, and strengthen our memory - all good things to help us succeed at defeating our threat, or in this case, our opponent. Self-talk, music, and team cheers all do this. 

This kind of arousal is an intense experience for our nervous system. Too much can cause us to perform poorly. Over-aroused muscles become tense and hands become jittery, which can lead to dropping a disc or being less nimble in a cut or a throw. Our brain becomes too narrowly focussed and we could lose spontaneity and creativity in our play. Our stomach might feel nauseous and we might have to go to the bathroom. We could even start to panic. 

Knowing how to manage this arousal can improve how we perform. First, we need to notice when we are over-aroused. Checking in regularly with our body, on and off the field, is a good way to develop the kind of body awareness needed for optimal performance. If we realize we are over-aroused then we can invoke a second strategy: deep breathing, which will activate the part of the nervous system that is in charge of relaxing us. Elite athletes and performers of all kinds learn how to manage this system so they can be properly engaged and play at their peak performance.