1 Advanced School for Coaches Greco-Roman Wrestling Psychological and Emotional Processes in Wrestling Luís Catita, PhD Almada, 14-17/11/2013

2 Competitive Pressure Competitive pressure is directly related with sport practice. The first goal of competition is to determine a winner. The greater the balance between the wrestlers abilities and the higher the importance of the competition, the greater tend to be the pressure experienced by the wrestlers and also the coach.

“é um estado emocional negativo.” Anxiety - Trait General predisposition to evaluate important situations as potentially threatening. Anxiety - State Individual response to a specific situation by means of mental and physiological symptoms. Anxiety

Anxiety States Mental Component Designated as cognitive anxiety (i.e. negative expectations, doubts about his abilities and potential outcome). Physiological Component Designated as somatic or physiological anxiety (i.e. physiological indicators of unwanted feelings or states).

“It’s a process where there is an unbalance between the subject abilities and the environmental demands.” “It’s a relation with the environment, that a subject evaluates as being significative for his well-being and where the demands are equal or higher of the available resources.” Stress

Stress sources Situacional sources: The importance of the event The uncertanty of the situation Personal sources: Anxiety trait Self-esteem.

7 Stress! Could be good

Stress Process by McGrath Environmental demands Individual perception of the environmental demands Response (physiological and psychological) Behavior Adjusting

It’s a level of activation that goes from deep sleep to maximum excitation. Characterizes the intensity of wanted in response to a given situation. Involves psychological and physiological factors of behavior. Arousal

INVERTED – U HYPOTESIS Optimal Point

Individual Zones of optimal functioning (ISOF) (Hanin, 1980, 1986, 1997) Atletas de elite tem uma zona ótima de Estado de Ansiedade = melhor desempenho. Fora da Zona = desempenho pobre

12 Functional Positive and Negative Emotions

13 Disfunctional Positive and Negative Emotions

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Anxiety, Arousal and Stress Coping: Cognitive and behavioral change that the subject uses to deal (cope) with the demands of the specific relation between himself and the environment.

PSYCHOLOGICAL INTERVENTION Jacobson Progressive Relaxation

Progressive Relaxation (Guidelines) Quiet Place (i.e. without noises) Mention that the technique of gradual relaxation of Jacobson is a technique that involves the contraction and relaxation of muscle groups together all deep breathing. Explain the movements of contraction and relaxation, as well as the words to tension and relax. Lie down on the mat with the back to de ground, legs and arms stretched. Dim de lights and ask to take the Heart Rate. 21

Progressive Relaxation (Guidelines) Take a deep breath and let it out slowly and relax. Start relaxation, reducing the tone and pace of diction, giving directions (tension 5 "; relaxation 15"), following the relaxation with deep breath. Always leave a period of concentration on the breath between each muscle group (30 "). In the end, let the attention focus on the breath. Take the heart rate again, turn on the lights and raise gradually. Push your back to the floor as hard as you can 22

Exercices 1. Tense your neck muscles by bringing your head forward until your chin digs into chest 2. Raise your arms, extend them in front of you and make a tight fist with each hand. 3. Press the palms of you hands together and push (chest and shoulder muscles) 4. Tense your stomach muscle as tight as you can. 5. Extend your legs, raising them about about 10cm off the floor and tense your thigh muscles. 6. Push 23

24 THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION …PATIENT

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