Acceptance

Experience

vs

Circumstance

Striving for better circumstances while simultaneously accepting the experience.

Mindfulness

Exercise

Sound -> Thoughts

External vs Internal

Mindfulness

Progress

Check-in

Are you feeling a simplification of the practice as you improve?

What has surprised you about mindfulness, or your reaction to it?

Have you experienced the relaxation (tiredness) that comes with arriving in the present, and...

...are you able to keep alert and focused, to accept this state but put your attention where needed?

Struggle or Question

Sport Mindfulness

Check-in

What surprised you about being mindfully engaged versus mindlessly engage?

What challenges made it difficult?

What can you do next to slightly increase the skill level?

Sport Mindfulness Exercise

Avoidance

"I got annoyed and it affected my in-game communication."

"I was still winning with an older champion."

"I got angry and stopped trying to make calls."

"I didn't try out his advice, and it caused a bigger argument which affected the next game."

"I get distracted and forget to track details."

"If I could play & act unselfishly."

"If I could communicate only helpful."

"If I could only be more motivated to do..."

"If I could be more focused in game."

"If I could be 100% open minded to every idea."

Physical fitness

Willing Acceptance

Expect to unlock your goals

Mindful Champions

Poise

The ability to perform as required and desired while experiencing whatever thoughts, emotions, and sensations triggered by the circumstances.

Control

"I want to perform optimally,

Acceptance

• but I'm angry...
• but I'm anxious...
• but I'm frustrated...

"I want to perform optimally,

• and I'm angry...
• and I'm anxious...
• and I'm frustrated...

Accepting experiences

Think of a stressful performance situation.

Describe the effect on your body and behavior.

Explain how you would set about meeting the demands of the moment, while coexisting with these internal states.

Training

Relevance of your exercises

Training Attention

Training Self-awareness

Training the Mindfulness

Exploring Performance Values

Recognizing Acceptance

Commitment to ACT

What is Mindfulness?

How does it improve performance?

What is poise?

Why do athletes with poise consistently perform better?

Problems

Common issues

Inconsistent Training

• Natural when building up a new habit.
• Each time was a success.
• Build on success, not failure.
• Rely on the skills you are learning.
• Set routines.
• Make commitments to YOURSELF (not your team)

My "why" and my "how"

• Write down your "why" for this program.
• Write down how you plan to invest in yourself.
• Describe how you will recover and forgive.

Mindfulness = Relaxation & Reduction

• My fault, not yours
• Become your own performance scientist
• Keep an open mind