The following post is an excerpt from Emotional Aptitude In Sports NOW available through most online retailers! Click Here to Order
Pumping Up the Adrenaline
Adrenaline (also called epinephrine) is a hormone secreted by the adrenal glands in conditions of stress. It increases the rate of blood circulation, breathing and carbohydrate metabolism. Adrenaline can be called up to prepare muscles for exertion. Pumping up the adrenaline is essentially releasing it into the bloodstream and heart. As the heart rate increases so too does the athlete’s blood pressure. Increased respiratory performance means more oxygen flows into the athlete’s muscles. The more oxygen that’s flowing throughout the athlete’s body, the better the performance.
In every close competition, becoming victorious often stems from one solution. It’s not technical, it’s not physical and it’s not even strategic; it’s an athlete’s ability to manage their adrenaline. Calling up and/or taming adrenaline at crunch time is a crucial emotional component. No matter the sport.
Managing one’s adrenaline and energy output is a serious emotional skill.
Winners have a secret. A secret they aren’t going to share. They have learned to systematically raise their adrenaline to ensure that they perform at their peak performance level when they need it the most. So how does an athlete raise adrenaline? By applying verbal and/or physical “triggers” to activate the flow of adrenaline. Verbal triggers may include shouting “Come On!”, “Let’s go right now!” or “Right here!” Teams may apply a quick, motivational cheer to stimulate adrenaline in their teammates. Physical triggers may include quick footwork movements, vigorous shadow swinging or a slap in the thigh to wake up the energy within.
Strong emotional aptitude allows an athlete to monitor adrenaline throughout the competition to maximize performance- increasing and decreasing adrenaline as needed. Elite athletes are better able to coordinate technical skills, athleticism, strategies, and emotions by controlling their arousal state.
You can’t wait for adrenaline to find you … You must call it up.
Let’s Get Fired Up!
While attending a girl’s 10 and under soccer game, I witnessed these little warriors belting out organized cheers with two minutes left on the clock. “LET’S GET FIRED UP!!…LET’S GET FIRED UP!!” Even at the ripe old age of 9, these competitors understood the value of pumping up the adrenaline at precisely the right time.
