The Emotionally Intelligent Athlete

How many times have you seen it happen? In the heat of competition a highly talented athlete "loses it" and pushes or hits an opposing player, yells at an official or a coach or does something else to draw a foul, penalty or ejection from the game. I saw it twice recently in a two-day period. First, in a close game, a highly talented high school basketball player made a beautiful block of an opponent's shot late in the fourth quarter. However, instead of walking away, the player got in the opponent's face and yelled—including a curse word. The official immediately called a technical foul. Both free throws were made and a basket was scored on the ensuing possession, making a four-point swing in a tight game. Second, in the AFC Championship game an angry Steelers' lineman made a late hit on a Ravens' linebacker resulting in a fifteen-yard personal foul penalty which changed the next play from a third-and-three to a third-and-18. The third down attempt was unsuccessful, leading to a punt from deep within the Steelers' own territory, and giving the Ravens excellent field position and an eventual score on a short drive. What these players demonstrated was a lack of Emotional Intelligence (EI). EI is critical for success not only in athletics, but in all aspects of life. Simply put, EI is being aware of your emotions and managing those emotions. It also has to do with your ability to manage your relationships with others. Some critical abilities of Emotional Intelligence that specifically relate to athletes include the following: Emotional Self-Awareness: Understanding what you are feeling, why you are feeling it and how it's affecting others. Impulse Control: "Count to ten" before you react. Managing your emotions and not "doing anything dumb." Self Regard: Appreciating your strengths while recognizing your weaknesses; feeling good overall about yourself, your talents and your effort. Interpersonal Relationships: Managing relationships appropriately with teammates, coaches, game officials, peers, teachers and administrators. Adaptability: Being flexible and adjusting to game conditions. It is your willingness, as circumstances may dictate, to take on different roles, or more or less responsibility. Stress Tolerance: Managing the stress of a game or event—your coping skills and ability to stay in control regardless of the situation. Optimism: Staying positive regardless of what may be happening at the moment. It is not "foolish hopelessness," but an attitude that says, "It might not have turned out like I wanted, but I am going to make something good come out of this experience." Emotional intelligence can be learned and developed. Many major college programs, including the University of Kentucky, now provide opportunities for athletes to participate in programs and courses centered on developing emotional intelligence skills. Where do you fit in the items listed above? Take each one and rate yourself on a scale of 1-5 with five being high. If you see areas in which you need to improve, ask your coach, mentor or teacher to help you develop better skills in those areas. It takes more than simply talent to be an outstanding competitor. Playing the game with emotional intelligence gives the athlete an edge in the competition. It can take your performance to the next level. -