Dr. Squat - Dr. Fred Hatfield

Yes! Dr. Jos. Oxendine, former chairman of the PE department at Temple University (he was one of my mentors in my doctoral studies) did the difinitive study on this subject back in the early 70's. I wrote the following over 30 years ago in the first book I ever wrote...

Mobilization Readiness

The traditional term for mobilization readiness is “psyching.” It refers to how a lifter prepares for the impending effort on a mental level. Lifters everywhere have their own, often peculiar, methods of psyching for a lift - we’ve all witnessed them, and cataloging them here would be superfluous (see illustrations 8.1)

Some stress (or anxiety) is inevitable (and perhaps desirable) in any sport endeavor. The trick, of course, is to control the dysfunctional aspects of stress and to attenuate the functional aspects. One must strive to mobilize his or her mental forces at the appropriate point in time.

Long term tension (weeks or months before competition), prestart tension (days before competition), start tension (following competition) are all important in maximizing coming performance (s). Each is dealt with differently (some are discussed earlier in this chapter). The following guidelines should be given careful consideration by lifters preparing for competition:

1. be careful not to peak too soon
2. be wary of activation during the prestart period
3. avoid emotional contagion from one athlete to another in the start period
4. be aware of the emotional state of the athlete upon completion of a contest, because this level will
ultimately affect readiness for the next contest

Psyching refers to what is done in the start period, immediately preceding a lift. Psyching an hour before, or for some lifters even 15 minutes before, can be devastating. Tremendous tension builds to the point of escalating fatigue, and should be avoided at all costs. Simply removing oneself from the warm-up room (or staying to oneself), and concentrating on some of the techniques of “mind control” spoken of earlier, is the best way I know for avoiding start tension.

Immediately before the lift (within 5 minutes, and preferably during the last two minutes), the lifter must psych himself or herself maximally in readiness for the effort to come. Again, lifters everywhere have their own techniques for doing this. It is critically important to maximal performance that the appropriate amount of arousal is welled up in the lifter.

For the few who may have technique problems, too much arousal will be determined to performance, and “calming down” procedures may be advised for lifters in the start period. However, for the vast majority of lifters, technique is well-ingrained, and mistakes in technique shouldn’t be a problem. For these lifters, total blind rage is the state of mind to be achieved! for, it is only through total abandon - ultimate aggressiveness - that the maximum lift will be consummated. Oxendine (1970) lists sports according to the amount of arousal necessary in each:

I have found that, among the truly great lifters, the psyching technique of choice is almost always exemplified by outward calm. No jumping, face-slapping, growling in animal-like fierceness, or howling. Inside, however, a raging storm is taking place. Inside, in the confines of the subconscious, trickles of primordial jungle instinct become raging torrents, escaping into the conscious. So intense are the resultant emotions that there is no room for any other thoughts - surrounding noise, other people, the weight on the bar, and even pain are all but mere shadows of reality, and the single-minded effort of movement predominates.

The renowned Bulgarian sport scientist, Filip Genov, spoke of mobilization readiness. In a compelling, erudite speech to the 1970 International Congress of Sport Psychology, Genov delineated the factors determining mobilization readiness in sport:
1. The structure of the state of mobilization readiness is determined by the structure of the impending
action. This statement refers to one’s readiness to lift a particular weight. For example, if, in the bench
press, the lifter’s weight is changed by the coach to a lower level, the lifter is likely to “adjust” his or
her state of readiness. Also, the more difficult the skill, the more time is needed in mental preparation.
(Coaches who are prone to alter their lifters’ attempts take note!)

2. Degree of preparation for action. The lifter can mobilize for execution only those skills prepared for in
training. This is precisely why intensity increases through the peaking cycle.

3. The surroundings and conditions of execution influence mobilization readiness. The lifter should, before
the competition, take note of all the details of the stadium or hall in which the competition is to take
place. On the basis of all of this processed information, the lifter is then able to formulate a “plan” for
the impending competition. Such factors as platform, bar feel, competition, climatic conditions,
referees, audience, etc., all become important in the formulation of such a plan.

4. Personal and social importance for the sportsman of attaining this or that result in an action. The more
importance given to the competition by the lifter, the more important the contest, the easier it is to
achieve mobilization readiness.

5. Self-assessment of the sportsman concerning his (or her) preparation and determination to achieve the
aim and tasks in the competition. The lifter must assess his or her preparedness, and decide beforehand
the adequacy (or Inadequacy) of it. On the basis of one’s decision, relative to preparedness, emotional
response to the competition will vary. Further, only the lifter can generate such a decision-the coach or
trainer’s thoughts are relatively non-influential.

6. The degree of difficulty of the task to be executed by the sportsman in a certain action. For example,
weightlifters give less time for the formation of mobilization readiness when preparing for an “easy”
lift. Record attempts require higher levels of psychic and physiological processes.

7. The personal experience of the sportsman in the formation of a similar state of mobilization readiness.
Inexperienced lifters give less time to the mobilization of their forces than do experienced lifter.
Further, they are not able to achieve the same level of psychic function that the more experienced lifters
can. Only training and meet experience will teach this.

8. The state of health of the sportsman. Sickness, trauma and fatigue affect mobilization readiness. By
conscious effort, experienced lifters are often able to execute effectively, albeit hazardous to personal
safety.

9. Preceding state of the sportsman. High or low spirits influence mobilization readiness. Genov
recommends tactics such as humor, song, and the like to combat low spirits. Negative influences
become dominant over effort with such problems as familial stress, personal problems, etc., and should
be avoided at all costs. When they arise, combat them appropriately whenever possible, and
(alternatively) adjust attempts.

10. Presence or lack of necessary time for formation of adequate mobilization readiness. Zhabotinski
(Teheran, 1965) was studied in preparation for each of his attempts in the press, snatch, and clean and
jerk. With each succeeding attempt in each of the three lifts, he took considerably more time in mental
preparation. This, according to Genov, is appropriate in all sports where succeeding efforts are
necessarily increased.

11. Individual peculiarities of the sportsman. Individual differences exist with respect to such factors as
speed of reaction, intensity, stability of attention, length of concentration, pulse, muscle tone, etc.
Thus, there is and optimal level of proceeding for the separate psychic processes and phenomena in the
formation of mobilization readiness between all lifters. Each lifter must get to know what these levels
are for himself or herself.

12. Ability of the sportsman to regulate the level of mobilization readiness. Two examples were given to
illustrate this principle. Dimitrov took little time preparing for his opening C&J at the 1965 National
Championships, and missed the weight. He explained later that it was a light weight for him and he
was over-confident -- he had underestimated the weight. Consequently, his mobilization readiness
was affected. He made his later attempts with ease. At the same meet, Strashimirov recognized that,
to place third, he “had to” make his last clean and jerk, although it was considerably more than he had
ever done. Increased mobilization readiness, says Genov, was responsible for Strashimirov’s greater
intensity of attention and success at the attempt. These examples clearly illustrate that regulating
mobilization readiness appropriately has much importance in lifting success, be the weight heavy or
light. Often, too much activation will cause the lifter to pull or push the weight too hard, and
as a result, miss the attempt (the weight is out of the “grove” or timing is messed up). Increasing or
decreasing mobilization rea

Thanks Doc, that was really helpful.

Can we please add this to the archives. I think this was a particularly good thread.

Thanks.

You got it! That was great!