Pick a sport and I’ll show you a kid who dreams of one day going pro. The most elite of these young and talented players have sacrificed much and dedicated years to honing their skills. However, the transition from college to professional sports is a steep climb, and rookies face many challenges, particularly in processing the complexities of the pro game.
For example, professional playbooks are a notorious labyrinth, brimming with plays or maneuvers that force their players to navigate a sea of information. Learning and retaining this vast amount of information quickly can be overwhelming, potentially hindering a rookie's ability to perform on the field.
Additionally, the speed of professional sports goes from blur to bullet train. College athletics, while already fast-paced for many sports, operates at a different speed than professional sport. No matter the sport type, pro players are often bigger, faster, and stronger, and their game moves at what seems to be a breakneck pace. This increased speed can be disorienting for rookies, leading to overall struggles to keep up with the game's flow.
Butsuccess in professional sports isn't just about physical talent. Beyond physical prowess, the mental side of the game is equally crucial. From athletes who play a variety of sports, including soccer and hockey – to those involved in elite motorsports, rookies must develop exceptional focus and concentration to execute flawlessly under pressure. They also need to quickly filter out distractions, make split-second decisions, and maintain composure in the face of adversity. These mental skills are often what separate good players from great ones.
Enter Brain Training: Sharpening the Tools for Success
Brain training, also known as cognitive training, offers a promising approach to help athletes overcome the challenges of transitioning to professional sports. Brain training programs utilize various exercises and activities to improve cognitive functions relevant to performance in a specific sport. Here's how brain training can benefit newly minted (and existing, in my opinion) professional athletes:
- Enhanced Memory and Learning: Brain training can improve an athlete's ability to absorb and retain information. This might involve exercises that target working memory, short-term memory, and spatial memory, which are crucial for learning the complex ways of the professional game.
- Improved Physical Improvements: The cognitive and neurological benefits of brain training are significantly augmented by evidence of physical improvements for athletes as well, including reduced perceived exertion, improved endurance, as well as enhanced speed, power, and accuracy.
- Increased Processing Speed: Certain brain training programs use exercises to improve cognitive processing speed. This can help athletes react faster to changing situations on a field, court, track, or course - allowing them to make quicker decisions and adjust to the faster pace of professional sport.
- Advanced Focus and Attention: Distractions are abundant in any sport. Brain training programs can incorporate exercises that enhance a player's ability to maintain focus, filter out distractions, and stay present in the moment. This allows athletes to execute more precisely and avoid costly mental mistakes.
- Heightened Decision-Making: Professional athletes often need to make critical decisions in a matter of seconds. Brain training programs can target specific cognitive functions related to decision-making, such as problem-solving, critical thinking, and anticipation. This can help players analyze situations quickly and make sound choices under pressure.
While brain training offers a valuable tool, it's important to remember it's not a magic bullet. Brain training should complement a player's cognitive abilities and accelerate their learning curve. Helping rookies adjust to the professional sports experience is a collaborative effort. Professional sports organizations can play a vital role by incorporating brain training programs into their player development plans.
The Future of the Game: Sharper Minds, More Exciting Sport
As brain training continues to evolve and gain traction, we might see a new generation of professional athletes across a wide range of sports who are even more physically gifted and mentally sharper. The future of professional sports looks bright, and brain training might soon prove to be a critical factor in propelling rookies toward achieving their full pro potential.
Sources:
https://www.cedars-sinai.org/blog/brain-training-tips-from-a-top-doctor.html
https://www.vernonwilliamsmd.com/Professional-Expertise/Sports-Neurology.aspx
https://nflalumniacademy.com/about/cognitive-training
https://www.vernonwilliamsmd.com/Approach-Tools-Services/Above-the-Neck-and-Brain-Training.aspx