Psychologist for the SL cricket team long overdue
Going through Elmo Rodrigopulle's report in the Daily News, regarding
an employment of a Psychologist to the National Cricket Team. I think
this was overdue from the time we entered the test cricket arena. When
you compete at world class level, Coaches and Support Staff can help the
team and guide them to achieve higher level where technique, strength &
conditioning, tactics are concerned. But as a Sportsman, competing at
very high level, mindset is very important to believe in himself and to
face situation at various levels.
I know individual Sportsmen all over the world gets specialist to
guide them, advise them during competition as most players do not
realize their true potential and what they are capable of and most of
the time they do not perform to their true ability, as they are not mentally prepared.
If you take Sri Lanka Cricket Team, as an example, does the team
listen to anyone with confidence, before a match and during games at
regular intervals ?
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Nimal Lewke |
When you are at a very high level chasing a world title, apart from
normal training, what is the specialized assistance, guidance they get.
Specialist
Even World Champions like Mohommed Ali, when he prepare himself for a
title bout he gets the advice of specialist to motivate him, so that he
will realize his true potential and produce best in him to overcome his
opponents.
In Sri Lanka there were many outstanding Cricketers, I believe, could
have done much better, if they had professional motivators, who could
have got the message across to them, how to produce his best at crucial
times.
There were many batsmen with so much of talent, ability and skill has
thrown his wicket by playing unwanted silly stroke at very crucial time.
That is because he has not given the message to himself the important
role and the responsibility that he has to perform.
Higher level
There were players like Aravinda de Silva and Arjuna Ranatunga who
have achieved higher level and performed well, I believe due to self
motivation they really understood what their role at crucial times and
they really believed in themselves that they can achieve and gave the
positive message to the brain to produce end results.
It was very much evident (during the 1996 World Cup final) in their
faces when they walked into the field composed and focused on what they
are going to do. Without you giving the proper message (data) your brain
(computer) you will not be able to produce positive results. Although,
Aravinda got his century, he was clearly focused on the end results not
his personal achievement. Same goes with Arjuna.
Mind is the computer that produce results. All depends on what the
data you feed and the out put will be based on that. Some players have
the ability to do that on their own. But majority need outside expertise
to get them to that mindset where you really understand the situation,
your ability and how to make use of them at the correct time.
Just a Coach of a team or Administrator will not be able to produce
that professional output at a world title, world class competition. It
has to come from real professionals who can get that message across to
the Sportsmen.
Competing
So if you are competing in the world arena, it is paramount important
that you get professionals to handle situation of that caliber to
achieve greatness.
I have studied NLP (Neuro Linguistic Programme), it teaches you to
get best out of you and to understand your ability and it will take you
to high level. I used this method as a Rugby Coach and also helped me
even on the battle front as a STF Officer to motivate myself and the
others whom I led.
Nimal Lewke
Formerly National Rugby Coach
Commandant /STF |
