The Other 90% - Part Two: Cognitive Functions and Athletic Performance

The Other 90% - Part Two: Cognitive Functions and Athletic Performance

The first article in the series “The Other 90%,” demonstrated that there is more than meets the eye regarding change as a process. Still, change is immensely dwarfed in complexity by the second topic, cognitive functions and athletic performance. Tackling and understanding the relationship between cognitive science and athletic success is a difficult venture, an endeavor that takes years and requires expertise across multiple disciplines. The disciplines an advanced cognitively oriented coach should possess a high level of knowledge about include physics, kinesiology (yes, the academic discipline the domers wrongfully mock), behavioral psychology, human learning, communication, brain behavior and structure, and while at it let us add expertise of the skills, strategies, and techniques of the involved sport. All coaches want brainpower and mental toughness, some obtain results in this domain by understanding the power of the mental game and implementing proven strategies.

The first discussion topic is a brief history of the cognitive revolution and the role of competing psychological schools regarding changes in coaching methods and philosophy. The first known cognitive revolution happened in the “golden era” of open cognitive thought, namely, the time of the great Greek thinkers. Socrates would not conform to change, Plato fumbled the rock, and Aristotle lacked the physical skills to play the line. In addition, Alexander the Great was a socially misfit bully. The second cognitive revolution involved the great thinkers in and near the time of the Age of Enlightenment, especially philosophers grouped into the rationalist camp. Finally, the third and most modern cognitive revolution arrived during the 20th Century. Those not so random groundbreaking sparks collectively created a growing fire that resulted in the cognitive school of psychology achieving domination, over your daddy’s and granddaddy’s behaviorist school of psychology (stimulus, response, and reinforcement) that still rules sports coaching today. Now these 20th Century contributors really did make discoveries that have already advanced coaching and learning through an awareness of the other 90%. For some this knowledge is largely unknown but remains potential treasure to be plucked.

In today’s era, top tier football programs have, over the last decade, hired professionals with the title of mental toughness coach or mental conditioning coach, These specialists are not really tutors or study table enforcers. Instead, they create programs designed to maximize cognitive performance and present strategies and routines for cognitive improvement. The benefits are obvious; players that are better prepared, make fewer mistakes, display more confidence, and win more often against players of equal physical talent.

Society, collectively but with individual exceptions, is past, the dumb jock image that once was very pervasive. Still, there are questions that arise regarding connecting athletic performance and intelligence. Try this age old question: How can someone with so much ability play so poorly or make so many mistakes, every single time?

written by Doc4blu

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