1. Mental and Physical Performance
John Underwood American Athletic Institute
Copyright AAI ©

2. PRESENTER JOHN UNDERWOOD
A former NCAA All-American, International-level distance runner and World Masters Champion, John has coached or advised more than two dozen Olympians including World and Olympic Champions. He holds three International Olympic Solidarity diplomas for coaching and has been a crusader for drug-free sport at all levels. John’s innovative program “PURE PERFORMANCE”, has gained international prominence. He is the Chemical Health Consultant for the New York Public High School Athletic Association drug prevention program. He has conducted the only physiological case study, of the residual effect of alcohol on elite athletic performance. John recently spoke at the Department of Justices’ National Leadership Conference. He has appeared as a guest commentator for ABC Wide World of Sports for Olympic Drug Scandals. John has worked with nearly all sport federations including the NCAA, NHL, NBA, NFL, the U.S. Olympic Committee, Sport Canada, the International Olympic Committee and the U.S. Navy SEALS.

3. Measuring
Potential

4. 14,000 TESTS
20 YEARS
John Underwood has conducted nearly 14,000 physiological tests over the past 20 years on elite athletes.
The following slides reflect his efforts to deter drug use by athletes.
John Underwood of the AAI has conducted physiological tests for the past twenty years and by first studying what makes optimal performance possible, he has a perspective for what ruins it. It is from this vantage point that these slides were made.

5. 28 OLYMPIANS
5 MEDALISTS

7. Human Performance Project
NAVY SEALS
Human Performance Project

8. The single most significant factor in optimal performance is CNS readiness…
What do we know?

9. Your brain runs your body
Mess with your brain
Mess with your body
CNS READINESS

10. Sleep is clearly a predictor of performance in skill based activity.
SLEEP/REM
Sleep is clearly a predictor of performance in skill based activity.
6 Hours 40 Minutes

11. 11/2 -21/2 HOURS OF REST
IN 24 HOURS
REM

12. IF THE BRAIN DOESN'T WORK
Rested Tired
Blood flow in brain
8 hours sleep
No sleep
WORKS FAILS
IF THE BRAIN DOESN'T WORK
THE BODY DOESN'T WORK

13. 1 1/ /2 HOURS
8 HOURS OF SLEEP

14. READ

15. INTERNET Nearly 2/3 of brains activity Rest means Rest…
The CNS can rest and reboot critical energy when the brain function is minimal…
Nearly 2/3 of
brains activity

16. Why athletes should not use them?
Energy Drinks
Why athletes should not use them?

17. Your brain runs your body
Sending signals vast distances from our brain via our CNS to human muscle, is what athletic performance is all about. Every aspect of body function depends on our brain.
Mess with your brain
Mess with your body
Your brain runs your body
Take extra good care of it…

18. Is it rested and ready?
Just like your body , your brain needs time to reboot or rest or recharge

19. 11/2 -21/2 HOURS OF REST IN 24 HOURS
In 24 hours per day your brain and your CNS only gets to rest 1 ½ - 2 ½ hours.
It is during a small percent of time during sleep, known as REM
You cannot overcome rest/sleep deficits by using stimulants.

20. IF THE BRAIN DOESN'T WORK
Rested Tired
Blood flow in brain
8 hours sleep
No sleep
WORKS FAILS
IF THE BRAIN DOESN'T WORK
THE BODY DOESN'T WORK

21. SLEEP
REST
a large body of converging medical evidence shows that sleep helps secure memory and learning, mental and physical performance.
“all ran faster and made more shots over a period in which they slept at least 10 hours a night.” Stanford BB Study
"Athletes who get an extra amount of sleep are very likely to improve their performance in a game" Stanford BB Study
BRAIN BODY

22. A Stanford University study may help persuade at least student athletes to make more time for sleep.
Cheri Mah, a researcher at Stanford, worked with basketball players, who all ran faster and made more shots over a period in which they slept at least 10 hours a night.
"Athletes who get an extra amount of sleep are more likely to improve their performance in a game," says Mah, who released results from an ongoing study in June. "It's not common knowledge, because if people understood how much of a difference (getting more sleep) could make athletically," they'd incorporate it more into their lives and not focus solely on nutrition and exercise.
Sleep &
Play
Better

23. ENERGY DRINKS 23

24. NOT THE ANSWER
What will work better, a totally rested brain and CNS or an exhausted brain and CNS jacked up on stimulants?

25. OVERSTIM
The CNS can only be at maximal intensive level for physical activity and function for 2-3 hours during a 24 hour period
Over stimulation of the Central Nervous System eventually results in chronic fatigue and breakdown.
Remember all muscle function is dependent on signals sent from the CNS and brain 25

26. OVERSTIM
We can do mental work for up to 14 hours per day
We can do high level physical work for
up to 2-3 hours per day
The CNS can only be at maximal intensive level for physical activity and function for 2-3 hours during a 24 hour period
Over stimulation of the Central Nervous System eventually results in chronic fatigue and breakdown.
ENERGY DRINKS ACTUALLY LIMIT THE ABILITY TO MAINTAIN HIGH LEVEL MENTAL OR PHYSICAL PERFORMANCE RATHER THAN INCREASE IT. 26

27. MENTAL PHYSICAL 14 HOURS 2-3 HOURS
Your choice for optimal performance begins with being rested, so you can be at your best. Anything else isn’t even close…