Matthew's gift - a tree image

Some years back I bowled out of St-Lambert Lawn Bowling Club on the south shore of Montreal

St-Lambert LBC

and had the privilege of helping a young 17 year old who has made bowls his sport of preference.

 

Over the years Matthew, was into baseball and even a junior umpire when he came to St-Lambert LBC, but since then he has been to Junior Nationals and the Canadian Nationals representing Quebec. He was lead on  2010  Quebec's Fours Team which was skipped by Michel Larue. 

 The St. Lambert LBC like any competitive Lawn Bowling Club has various styles of skips.  Matthew, with his  simple and young ideas was easily impressed and molded and developed a style of play which was very often exciting.  Exciting to watch and also filled with excitement for him during the game.   Matthew found it hard to retain his excitement and sometimes simply lost it while on the mat.   All he needed was a mental discipline to simply forgettable Bowls for few minutes with a pleasant dream image. 

This particular day, as the sunset behind a young tree in the park, I explained that sometimes it is necessary to  relax before going to the mat and simply come down from the excitement .  I showed him a beautiful tree behind the green which was back lit by the sunset, and suggested he use it as his own personal image of relaxation. 



Stock Free Image.com image

 Sitting there we analyze the scene.  He built it in his mind the grasses the branches the sun set and even the Hydro poles of in  the distance.  Turning his back to the scene, I asked him to describe it to me. Then I explained this was his tree and he could imagine and recreate it any time he felt the pressure or stress building before he went to the mat.  He was surprised but he did use it often.

After a detailed description, which he did very well, I explained that when he was excited and before going to the mat; he should develop that image in his mind and feel the relaxation he now was feeling. 

 

 Anxiety and stress during competitive Bowls is not uncommon  and often it is just the necessity of a distraction.  Music in your ear or just a few minutes to visualize a relaxing scene. Your relaxing Picture image.

 

Emotional control can not only be energizing and renewable of the spirit and mind but the few moments of relaxation may minimize improper stress and reaction to events.  Not every bowl will be perfect and the anxiety from wanting to win can be very demanding. 

 

Sometimes we become a sponge obsurbing everything that is around us and a mental practice  of developing an image which is pleasant and relaxing, before going to the mat can be a valueable tool.   

 

Every athlete should have his own visualized image.  It would be suggested to not attempt to develop images of previous wins or losses as these game images can only add to your anxiety and stress.