COMPETITIVE MOMENTUM

Momentum is a well-known competitive concept - and it turns out to have a basis in the nervous system. In this article, we’ll discuss momentum in the context of athletic competitions.

Peak performance comes through the Play state. The Play state is a state of mind in which the individual is completely focused, in the zone, and able to tap into their full potential. When teams have momentum in athletic competition, they are collectively tapped into the Play state, and building off of each others energy, and are completely immersed in the activity, not thinking about anything else.

On the other hand, when momentum is against a team during a competition, their nervous systems drift ever so slightly towards the Dorsal Vagal shutdown state. In Dorsal Vagal, an individual is not in the moment and is not able to tap into their full potential. For teams, the Dorsal Vagal shutdown state is characterized by a collective sense of apathy, fatigue, or feeling dissociated from the activity.

By training the nervous system to familiarize with the Play and Stillness states, teams can both build resistance to the Dorsal Vagal shutdown state and increase access to the Play peak performance state - making them more resilient, as well as better able to cultivate momentum.