In my previous post about the All Blacks, I wrote about their realization needing mental strength to be successful at the Rugby World Championship (RWC). So, how do you take what they learned and apply it to maximize your own potential when you’re under pressure in tight game situations?
The brain has three distinct ways of reacting to its surroundings: thinking, instinct, and emotion. Under pressure, people tend to naturally only rely on instinct and emotion. When you’re under pressure, it’s like being under threat. When this perception of threat happens, you get one of three responses: fight, flight, or freeze. Or, what the All Blacks coaches called going into the Red Zone.
In the Red Zone, it’s hard to think straight or make good decisions. Recognizing this, the All Blacks trained themselves to get back to the Blue Zone quickly as possible. How do they do that? The key is focusing on the process rather than outcomes. Focusing on fundamentals like getting in position and making precise passes are what leads to productive plays which then snowballs into more productive plays, and ultimately success.
It’s an approach that doesn’t just work on the Rugby pitch. You can apply it to any sport, in any game situation. Just remember these four things:
- Under pressure, most of us will go into the red zone.
- Reduce external pressure by not focusing on the outcome.
- Try to get back into the Blue Zone by focusing on the process.
- Most importantly, have fun.
0 responses to “Performing Under Pressure: Going From The Red Zone to the Blue Zone”