ASK THE DOCTOR
Tee's Weekly Sports Psychology Advice Column
With Dr. Rachel Enakmas
Dear Rachel:
Are point guards necessarily short?
Claire
-Washington DC Director Level Mental Health Professional
Dear Claire,
Actually, it’s Dr. Enakmas. And to answer to your question, no. Magic Johnson played point guard and he is 6’ 9”. He is also the best point guard ever. Tee’s Weekly technical instructor “Old School” will argue that Bob Cousy is the best ever. The main difference is that Magic Johnson made ball fakes before he passed and Couz made his fakes after he passed the ball. Psychologically speaking, to deceive a competitor before passing the ball is more effective but the Cousy method is much more disheartening.
I once heard a client of mine tell her nine-year-old son after a soccer game that she never again wanted him to do a soccer fake called the “egg beater”. The maneuver is used just prior to dribbling past a defender. She wanted him to stop because the “egg beater is DELIBERATELY deceptive and it is wrong.” I wonder if Cousy’s mom ever discouraged him from jumping towards the rim after he passed the ball in a DELIBERATE attempt to fake a shot. Also, I have always thought that if you’re a point guard or, for that matter, a running back, soccer striker, or second baseman, it is better to be really short than just a little-below-average short. The lower center of gravity adds quickness, makes you tougher on the ball, and is good for a couple extra calls from the refs. In conclusion, Claire, I’m not sure why you asked the question, but if you are a 6’ 9” big woman don’t let them tell you that you can’t run the point.
Dr. Enakmas
Dear DOCTOR Rachel:
What is your recommendation for the amount of time one should spend getting mentally ready for a sporting event? My results seem to fluctuate with no correlation to the amount of mental preparation I do.
Tim
Parsonsburg, MD
Dear Tim,
In sports psychology, like life, there are no correct answers — everyone is different. In fact, when I defended my sports psychology doctorate thesis I answered every question with “Depends. Everyone is different.” And it worked like a charm. Remember that your body and your mind are always different from one day to the next so it is best to have a general mental and physical routine before a game of golf, tennis, hurling, PlayStation 3 FIFA ’08 soccer, etc. From that general routine you should vary slightly depending on your mental state that day. For instance, one day I was preparing for a game of golf at Van Courtlandt Golf Park in the Bronx and I had been infected with an extremely acute strain of the Irish Flu the night before. Normally my mental routine consists of 20 minutes of transcendental meditation followed by some visualization techniques revolving around my first tee shot. Because of the flu I had this day, I decided to practice some projectile vomiting drills instead. The locker room at the Vannie was used in the movie “Wall Street” and was a tremendous setting to get me mentally prepared. When the time came, I drilled a three-wood off the first tee and split the fairway. The key is to be in touch with your mental and physical state each day and act accordingly. But, like I said, everyone is different.
Dr. Enakmas
Doctor,
I was born a natural athlete. I have played sports all my life, and continue to do so today despite my age (early ‘50s). I have four children, none of whom have any athletic ability. I continually encourage each of them to try an easy sport like golf or tennis. But to no avail. They paint or write with the best of them. I believe they even know how to party with real athletes, but that just causes me more anguish. I am sure you know what I mean -- all talk no action. I ask you, is it too late? Should I throw in the towel and just live with this embarrassment? Or is there some way to get them out of the family room and on to the field? I await your reply.
Able
Dear Able,
Did you say paint and write? Okay, first of all, next time you see anybody in your house paint one stroke on a canvas, whether he or she is painting a bowl of fruit of just a bunch of horizontal lines, make him or her eat the rest of the paint in the can. Second of all, thank you for the question. Now, depending on the children’s individual ages, I have always found food deprivation to be the most effective first step of behavior change. But obviously, after awhile it becomes counter-productive to the goal of making your kids more active and competitive. And competition is the real key; activity without competition is what we refer to in my chosen profession as retarded.
The best way to get them out of the family room and onto the field is to first have them competing in the living room. Who says you can’t play golf or tennis in the living room? In my book I explain how there are 76 games that can be played in the living room with duct tape and socks alone. Anything can be a competition. Any place can be a field. A family member of mine once asked his brother, “Who won?” after he mentioned that he had just come back from a lovely walk on the beach with his wife. I will speak to you off-line, Able, about implementing a vertical behavioral treatment plan for each of your children, but don’t worry so much about the athletic ability of the children. The point of emphasis should always be a desire to win at all costs.
One last bit of advice: it is refreshing to hear that the kids like to party — that means there is hope. Next time everyone is home, try a drinking game called Guinness Pint Race. Play first one to seven wins and I guarantee improvement. All the best.
Dr. Enakmas
If you would like to have Dr. Rachel Enakmas answer your sports psychology question, please feel free to write to teesweekly@teesweekly.com