By Ron Obrien This is a previously published article. It was added to Experts in Febryary 2009

The graph on this page depicts what is generally the sense of urgency tendency of most divers as they progress through a training cycle or season. The sense of urgency level is also usually accompanied by a corresponding flow of anxiety level.

Pre-season Preparation Period
As the training cycle begins, with a few months to the major championship event, the diver's sense of urgency in accomplishing the training goals is low. The thinking pattern is one of "there's plenty of time, so just go with the flow and I will get everything together eventually".

Competitive Season
As time passes and preliminary competitions are beginning to take place, the urgency level begins to rise. About 4-6 weeks before the major championship of the season, the diver realizes that the time is getting short to accomplish the goals that have been set for improvement. Focus and concentration improve and the diver begins to listen more carefully to the coach's instructions. At this point many divers go through a period of self-doubt and begin having trouble training with great quality. They are questioning their ability to be ready for the big challenge. After a week or so (with support from the coach and Sport Psychologist) they become reassured that they will be ready and are able to get back to quality training.

Championship Season
Having gotten through the rough period of doubting themselves the diver is in a more positive frame of mind, but the sense of urgency remains high with the major event about to happen. The tendency is to be anxious and want to over train to make sure they are ready.

THE COACH

The coach must try to offset the diver's natural sense of urgency pattern and bring them more toward the coach's contrived and planned sense of urgency level as shown in the attached graph.

Pre Season Preparation Period
The coach should have thoroughly analyzed the diver's performance in the last Competitive and Championship periods. The two or three most important goals for improvement must have been established and discussed with the diver. The coach's
Sense of urgency level must be high and this needs to be made obvious to the diver. The coach needs to push the diver to make the necessary changes and improvements as quickly as possible. Hopefully, this tactic on the coach's part will lift the diver's natural tendency to "float" through the training and their sense of urgency level will rise. If this occurs, the chances that the improvements will be in place going into the Competitive Season are greater and the diver will have a chance to compete several times with these changes and build confidence.

Competitive Season
As the Competitive Season begins, the coach's urgency level should decrease, but some pressure for the diver to stick with the improvements and continue to work on the needs to remain. Near the end of the Competitive Season, the coach needs to adopt a confident and more "laid back" approach to training and competition to bolster the diver's level of confidence and offset and tendency they may have to panic. At this point, the "coaching switch" needs to be turned off. No further changes can be made, as it is too late. You have to go with what you have. Encouragement, simple coaching instructions and reinforcement of the improvements made are emphasized.

Championship Season
The major technical coaching is done and the "hay is in the barn". The coach's role now is to be relaxed and confident and exhibit a low sense of urgency when dealing with the diver. This should help to impart a sense of calm and to offset some of the urgency and anxiety the diver may feel. Especially on competition days the "walk slow, talk slow" approach is valuable. Plan the day so there is plenty of time to accomplish everything and no sense of rushing enters in to the preparation. Feeling rushed is and urgency/anxiety level elevator. Finally keep and eye on the diver for signs of behavior that are abnormal. The coach needs to know from the Competitive Season and previous seasons what the diver looks and acts like when they are in the right frame of mind for peak performance. If deviation from this is observed, the coach needs to intervene and find out what they are thinking and provide assurance that they are ready.

End Result

Through the coach planning and executing the opposite urgency curve from the diver hopefully the result is a significant change in the diver's natural tendency urgency curve. The diver should be more highly motivated to make the necessary improvements and changes sooner in the Pre-Season and remain more calm and confident in the Competitive and especially the Championship Seasons. There is no more important time for this strategy to be implemented than the Olympic Trials and Games cycle of preparation, when stress and emotions can become heightened.

When the pressure is on, a relaxed and confident coach can transmit those qualities to the diver and result in peak performance.

Ron O'Brien