Information provided by Oceania Sport Information Center
There are some exciting things happening in the Oceania sport universe. ONOC AGM will be happening in a week and the Pacific Games is just over four months away. In the following issue of Oceania Highlights, you will find some articles about some things you can do to assist in the development of athletes and coaches leading to the Pacific Games.
Preparing Mentally for Competition Learning how to perform optimally for competition can be a challenge. There are often numerous distractions and unique circumstances surrounding most competition events, many of which, young athletes are unfamiliar with. Coaches and parents can play an important role in helping with mentally preparation, in order to maximize performance.
BIG GAME PREPARATION - 7 TIPS TO STAYING COOL & CALM IN THE CLUTCH The biggest secret to you playing your best when it counts the most is learning how to keep yourself CALM and COMPOSED. If you allow yourself to get too nervous or too excited right before or during a competition, then your muscles will tighten up, you all lose your confidence and your play will go right down the tubes! This is what it means to CHOKE! The athlete gets so nervous that he/she ends up performing tight and tentatively a mere shadow of his or her normal self!
Sleep Quality, Mood and Performance: A Study of Elite Brazilian Volleyball Athletes This investigation analyzed the relationships between sleep quality, mood, and game results in the elite athletes participating in Brazilian volleyball competitions. Participants (n = 277 elite Brazilian volleyball athletes, 214 (77.3%) men and 63 (22.7%) women) completed the Brunel Mood Scale (BRUMS) and reported their subjective sleep perception.
The Effects of Sleep Extension on Sleep, Performance, Immunity and Physical Stress in Rugby Players Background: The purpose of the present study was to examine the efficacy of sleep extension in professional rugby players. The aims were to: (i) characterize sleep quantity in elite rugby players and determine changes in immune function and stress hormone secretion during a pre-season training programme.
Nutrition
Fueling for Performance Proper nutrition is crucial for an athlete to optimize his or her performance for training and competition. Athletes should be able to meet their dietary needs through eating a wide variety of whole food sources.