Subconscious actions in Sports

When the "Conscious mind" makes an action or 

 a decision to act; it is our  "Thinking" and those  controlling instructions which activates that action; but when the "Subconscious Mind" activates an action it is usually  done "instinctively" based upon previous experience or training. The body has developed muscles from memory for actions which had occurred, and these action performed instinctively, are finished before we even are aware that they have occured. "Subconscious actions"

 Yes we think the action with the "Conscious" but we do not follow the action step by step when we begin the action we move our thought to instructing the "Subconscious Mind" in controlling the action.

 The image (above) is from Thinkability.com which with the idea that there are auditive and there are visual individuals (or that some people think in words and some people think in images); and they assist their clients on how to develop and use these abilities. 

 Myself, I think in images so in transmitting an instruction to the subconscious during my sport performance, I see the image of what I want to happen and then let the subconscious mind take control to do the action. We must realize that there are two types of thought that are doing the actions which has been perfected and used for international competitions.

In practice for our sport, we are doing the action and telling our body to perform it. This development of muscles to do a unique task is often referred to as "Muscle Memory".

Each time we perform the task of our training, there is a new level of precision  with which it is performed and the memory of this work  is collected in our Subconscious.  We can tell the body to "Jump" from a wall to the ground below, but it is the Subconscious mind that will control how we land and if we feel secure in that decision. The subconscious mind protects the body and will modify how we land so not to injury ourselves. Yes, we thought about it but the subconscious mind uses our memories of previous jumps to help us be secure. If per chance, the subconscious doubts how safe our decision it will began developing protective actions. It has identify our abilities and created an emotion (fear or doubt) and inform us that there is doubt in the decision.

We all know of some action which are done "Instinctive" and we never think that our "Subconscious mind" was involved. To some, this idea of a subconscious (instinctive) actions is new. These actions which occur when we do not have time to think about them just happen. And we probably think, "Thank God, that was close"  This is completely different for the athletic whom after years of training or development of their skill; know that the "Conscious actions"  is to be performed after a bit of "Thinking" and planning. The athletic's encounter with the subconscious mind, is when he realizes that they were in a void or emptiness whon the action happen. Usually because the action happen fast and is then over.

We have seen that when driving a car and a child runs out in front of the car, we don't have the time to tell the mind or our muscles what to do. We "think" the action and before we know it, that action was finished. As if in seeing the "Danger", and thinking "Stop"; the subconscious mind has reacted to our thought  and we "put on the brakes". We, all are  seeing "Instinctive danger" actions performed every day.  This example is interesting  because as we value the life of the child,  we find that the subconscious mind did not give us the possible control and choice of stopping slowly. But what if it had been a dog or a squirrel that cut across our street ?  Maybe because we know that the quick stop would have injured us or the  baby in the "car seat"; the Subconscious made the action needed, but it also remained open to a level of control which would allow for a slower stop even if just to not spilled our coffee. We all remember how hard we put the brakes on when first learning to drive.

The two important aspects of this scenario is that first, the subconscious mind is  performing an reaction done instantaneously without our awareness, but with some small control as it is happening and secondly; that the subconscious mind can be interrupted if it  is necessary to be controlled. Such interruption of the subconscious  is allowed to permit the conscious mind to take a level of control. We find we cannot go too long without the conscious having control.  Bowls delivery has about a split second "Zone".

 In our sport actions, we want the subconscious to follow training and performance developed. We do not want the "Conscious mind" doing actions which we cannot control. We want our developed performance to be totally done in complete absence of the "Thinking". We call this being in the "Zone" as it is a void of thought where our "Conscious mind" hides during the action. 

The above photo is from BrainScan article of  "10 Focus exercises to build your attention"  which explains "because attention and focus are both like a muscle. Unless you build it, you’ll be distracted by every (thing)" and "Getting your brain fit (for studying) is like training for a marathon. You run a bit every day, and the first week or so isn’t that great, but then you get fitter, it becomes fun, and you build the muscles you need". In sports focus is a major part of performance.

In the previous blog I talked about "open" and"close" sports. (Open to actions occuring around us like soccer). When your sport is just you and your performance it is a "Closed Sport" (like Bowls or Archery). This would not seem to have much to do with the subconscious mind but each sport has its own limitation on what the subconscious mind can do. 

We as athletic, too often think that with good  concentration and  a lot of practice we will eventually makes  "a perfect" performance.  In a Closed sport; concentration is more than just an absence of interference.  In an Open sport where avoiding an opponent. on the ice or field; we have less concentration and learn to develop more a reflective reactions. There, our actions are reactions to other actions. Like the child running in front of the car (an action) forced an "Instinctive Reaction" the same as a Boxer would avoid a thrown punch or a hockey player avoid a check or Soccer player avoid the lost of the ball.

At this year world soccer championships, last month, I saw a soccer athlete doing  a "Flip upside down  kick". The soccer ball which was about 3 feet over his head, was send into the net. He’s not only contact with the ball but also send it in the direction of the soccer net.

Shutterstock photo

 Even though we define "Soccer" as an "open sport" and that the athletic`s mind was always watching the opponent and the goaler; his performance or action was also  in accordance with actions that involves his team members. If the goaler had been in a blocking position, the soccer player would  probably have created an alternative offensive play like a pass rather than a Shot on goal.

To have perform this "upside down kick" of a soccer ball towards the net (or a team mate) would’ve required  many hours of continual practise by the athlete. A lot of practice for this rare occurrence. But this practice sessions was to teach the subconscious mind  the actions and it's ability to strike a moving object in this strange position. 

 When I was doing Archery Trick shots and shooting a bouncing tennis ball; I learned to organize the subconscious mind to watch for that moment when the tennis ball had almost stopped moving. (at the top of it's bounce) But I had to practice to look for that moment and then afterward I had to work to coordinate the timing of shooting at the target and analysis the delay between the release of the arrow  and the arrival at the tennis ball. So I was educating the subconscious for shooting where the ball would be when the arrow arrived.  This trick shot was developed in the Victoriaville Archery Shooting Alley when nearby  Tennis were  being played. The two areas were seperated by a protective screen;  and often a tenis ball came into our archery area. 

In sports like archery, because it is just the archer and their equipment; the level of concentration and the time in the "Zone" is very short. The archer simply allows the subconscious mind to perform the actions of  releasing the arrow when his confidence in Aim and Breathing is right. In other sports like Lawn Bowls this Subconscious mind "Zone" can be even greater. 

In a YouTube video of Tiger Wood he says that between the start of his swing and seeing the golf ball in-flight towards the target he has not had any idea what was happening.

 The video calls this "Peak Performance Zone" at which time the athlete is absence from reality or conscious awareness. To quote the trainer's words about Tiger's performance; we must be "Mentally Tough". Most of us are not in the zone but for may be a couple microseconds; but it is enough to allow the subconscious mind to do all its necessary actions for that perfect delivery or shot.

 In all sports we must develop "Defensive Actions" in preparation for that interruption and allow the Subconscious to execute them as necessary.  For example, if concentration is important during your performance, you must develop the ability to abandon your performance when interrupted.

For example,  I  remember once while "in the zone" and in the process of doing a Petanque takeout shot; when I heard a large loud bang and instantly the subconscious mind cancel the shot, as I threw my ball away from the intended target. I had previously defined during my  shot preparation that there was a danger and after starting my shot and being "in the Zone" the noise caused the subconscious mind to react to the (thought of) danger and being unable to stop the performance; the ball was thrown away from the target and it's would-be danger.