| Copyright (c) 2007 The Brain Code LLC | | | | treat your opponent with respect. |
| While running on the treadmill this morning I was | | | | Sports are a great opportunity to learn how to |
| watching a soccer game on TV and had the | | | | control your temper. Players have countless |
| realization that soccer is really a great game for brain | | | | opportunities where they feel wronged by an |
| fitness. I have played and been around the game all | | | | opponent or an official � but they must learn |
| of my life but hadn't really made the full connection | | | | to manage their response to be effective in the |
| to brain fitness until now. | | | | game. In the 35 years I have spent on the soccer |
| In my last couple of posts, I've been introducing the | | | | field, I have never seen an official change his call |
| concept of EPIQ performance. The fitness of your | | | | because a player got angry. |
| brain controls your Emotional, Physical and Intellectual | | | | Many people fail to master this part of sports. Kids |
| performance. Soccer, and many youth sports, | | | | must learn how to bring their intense emotions to |
| contributes to each aspect of your EPIQ | | | | bear during the play, and then let them subside when |
| performance by challenging all of these individual | | | | the play is over. This is where games like soccer can |
| pieces. | | | | boost your EQ (and your game) if you can focus on |
| Improving Body Control | | | | the skill of emotional regulation. |
| The physical part is a �no brainer'. Kids and | | | | IQ Boosting Sports Experience |
| adults actively engaged in a sport will improve their | | | | Finally, soccer can also improve your intellectual |
| physical intelligence. This may be your brain's ability to | | | | performance or IQ. You say � come on. |
| regulate your cardiovascular function � as in | | | | How can that be true? Soccer is a very dynamic |
| aerobic sports; your brain's ability to control fine | | | | game, meaning the play is changing all of the time. |
| motor skills � as in most sports; or both. | | | | Many people who don't know the game are surprised |
| Soccer is a great game for both cardiovascular | | | | to learn that there are very few set plays in soccer. |
| conditioning and motor skills, which will improve your | | | | A good team just reads each other on the fly and |
| physical intelligence. | | | | figures out what to do next. |
| Strengthening Emotional Response Circuits | | | | Because of this, playing soccer and other sports, |
| Soccer and other sports also boost your Emotional | | | | always challenges you to reevaluate your situation |
| intelligence (EQ). Why? Sports teach kids how to deal | | | | and adapt in that instant. To be a good player, you |
| with failure � if they have a supportive team | | | | need to constantly monitor what is going on around |
| environment. Everyone needs to learn to deal with | | | | you and figure out your next move � |
| failure and defeat and sports are a great way to | | | | whether you have the ball or not. |
| learn how to do that in a safe environment. They | | | | The dynamic nature of the game is constantly |
| teach you how to get back in the game after | | | | challenging you brain to read, interpret and respond |
| making a mistake or simply getting beat. | | | | � over and over again. This works on |
| Sports can also teach you incredible control over | | | | problem solving skills and decision-making capabilities |
| your emotions � again, as long as you are | | | | at the same time. Not only that, but the environment |
| playing in a supportive environment. How? In sports, | | | | that this learning takes place in is charged with high |
| you need to charge your emotions up so that you | | | | levels of emotion and intensity � which is |
| can compete at your best. You need to play with | | | | known to enhance the learning process. |
| high levels of intensity. Furthermore, in contact | | | | So next time you watch your kids play a soccer |
| sports, like soccer, you need to play with great | | | | game, understand that they are getting much more |
| bursts of aggression to compete for the ball. | | | | than a physical workout. They are learning to regulate |
| But then you need to turn it all off in an instant. One | | | | emotions, solve problems and make decisions. They |
| second you are struggling with everything you have | | | | are increasing their EPIQ performance that will help |
| against an opponent and the next second, the play is | | | | them in other areas of life as well. |
| over, and you need to be able to let that go and | | | | |