Competition Cue Words

[Motiv Girl]

What cue words do you use during bowling?And do they work for you.
I always use a cue word and it my be different each and every time I bowl.It just
depends on what I think that I need to be focusing on at that certain point
in competition.Cue words are easy and simple,but you have to be committed to what
you are telling yourself,if not ,your mind will not focus in on the statement.Also it must be
at the proper time in the stance or approach.


Cue Statements: Staying Focused at Critical Times


What is a cue statement?

A cue statement is a short statement said to yourself to refocus your concentration. Cue statements help you to stop negative and distracting thoughts that impact your performance. These statements should be:

1. Personal – You need to find a cue statement that works for you! This could be a single word such as "tough" or "dominate" or a short series of words. One way to develop a personal cue statement is to ask the question, "If I were the best athlete I could be, how would I look and act?" Take time to think about how you would answer the above question because a statement that is believable and personal to you will be the most effective.
2. Positive – To be effective in refocusing after mistakes, a cue statement should be positive. Negative self-talk has been linked to performance detriments and anxiety. Focus on what makes you the best you can be; do not spend time criticizing yourself.
3. Short – The ideal cue statement allows you to quickly refocus but does not interfere with the necessary thoughts during performance. As mentioned earlier, some athletes prefer a single word such as "focus" while others use a short personal statement such as "strong, focused, in the game."

How do cue statements work during competition?

Using a cue statement for refocusing during competition is not difficult but does take practice. Using a refocusing cue statement in combination with a deep or centering breath allows you to refocus and decrease muscle tension caused by anxiety. So how does this work? When you find yourself unfocused or unable to refocus after an error, employ the following steps:

1. Inhale a breath through your nose lasting a count of 4.
2. Hold the breath for 1-2 seconds.
3. Exhale the breath through your mouth lasting a count of 4.
4. While you are exhaling, state your refocusing cue in your mind.
5. Allow the exhalation and cue statement to help you refocus on the competition.

Practicing cue statements

As mentioned earlier, this technique takes practice. After you have decided on a personal and believable cue statement, practice it often and in varied situations. Just as you work on your game,you need to practice the refocusing cue statement and centering breath so it will be effective during competition. After practicing this technique, you will find it easier to employ during competition and stressful situations.

[bowl1820]

Here's the first part of this article for those interested

Cue Statements: Staying Focused at Critical Times
Ryan Hedstrom
Manchester College

Emily is a collegiate volleyball player. As a defensive specialist, she often receives serves and establishes the defensive plays for her team. She has recently struggled with losing concentration and confidence after bobbling serves and missing passes. This problem seems to be compounded during the matches, often resulting in Emily becoming completely frustrated and unfocused. The main problem is that she cannot shake these mistakes which cause her to continue a downward spiral in performance.

Emily’s problem is very common in sport. Athletes often complain of not being able to let go of mistakes or focus during critical times. One technique for dealing with this lack of focus is to develop and use a cue statement.

[JAnderson]

From a purely mental game perspective, I use "Passion" or "Bring it All". At other times, when I'm "fighting" some boogie man that has crept into my game that day I may use the word "quiet" for example when my head starts bobbing or "wait" when I'm pulling the ball from the top of the swing.

For anyone wanting to understand more about the technique and understand the theories and reasons behind this approach, I'd suggest "Focused for Bowling" by Dean Hinitz. Here it is on Amazon.