Sport Psychology Tactics - Why NASCAR Drivers Use Simulation Training To Enhance Mental Performance & Win
About the Author
Ben Foodman is a licensed psychotherapist & performance specialist. He owns his private practice located in Charlotte North Carolina where he specializes in working with athletes to help them overcome mental blocks (the yips), PTSD, ADD / ADHD and achieve flow states through the techniques of Brainspotting & Neurofeedback. If you are interested in services, use the link here! Enjoy the article below!
NASCAR Drivers, Simulation Training & Peak Mental Performance
Ever since I began my private practice, I have been incredibly fortunate to be able to work with drivers from all four major national racing series which include the NASCAR Cup Series, NASCAR Xfinity Series, NASCAR Gander RV & Outdoors Truck Series, and ARCA Menards Series. These drivers have trusted me to provide them with the very best skills and information to enhance their mental performance so that when race day arrives, they are in the best possible position to succeed.
Through my experiences working with these drivers, I have found that the overwhelming majority of these elite athletes use a specific skill that is actually transferable to all sport. NASCAR drivers frequently use simulation training, which is rooted in imagery practice. For this Training Report I want to discuss what simulation training is, why it works and how athletes accross the sports universe can use it. Let’s first dive into how NASCAR drivers use simulation training and what it is.
Defining What Simulation Training Is & How NASCAR Uses This Method
Simulation training has been defined as ‘a virtual medium through which various types of skills can be acquired’. Oftentimes when NASCAR drivers are preparing for a race, they will use what is called a ‘simulator’ which essentially is a video game that also tries to bring in both the sensory component of a race as well as the unique dimensions of the race track. The idea behind this is because drivers have to process so much information real-time, the more familiar they can become with an upcoming race, then the fewer surprises they have to potentially deal with.
There is also a plethora of research that supports this type of training. Most of this research is found in imagery and visualization literature as well as motor behavior & skill acquisition training. While most NASCAR drivers (and all high achieving performers) will do whatever types of training that are recommended to enhance their performances without questions, I feel that understanding the ‘why’ behind one’s training is just as important as understanding the ‘how’. Let’s take a quick look at the neuroscience behind simulation training, also known as imagery & visualization.
The Neuroscience Behind Simulation Training & Athlete Peak Mental Performance
I will eventually dedicate future training reports to exploring more of the research behind motor learning. While imagery and visualization is certainly a part of motor behavior and skill acquisition, the unique characteristics of imagery will be instantly transferable and understandable to all sport settings. What we have found in neuroscience research is that when athletes are engaged in imagery and visualization training, their brain’s interpret these images as nearly identical to the actual experience of sports competition.
Furthermore, when athletes are able to make the imagery experience poly-sensory (visual, auditory, olfactory, gustatory, tactile & kinesthetic) this enhances the quality of the ‘mental rep’. Widely accepted theories within the field of sport psychology such as Bioinformation Theory & the Functional Equivalence Explanation also add currency to the proposed benefits of visualization training. So since most sport psychologists widely accept imagery as a valid form of mental training, and NASCAR drivers regularly use this method, how can other athlete populations incorporate this into their personal development?
How All Athletes Can Incorporate Simulation Training Into Their Psychological Preparation
When athletes & coaches are deciding on how to develop a simulation training program that uses imagery based techniques, there are several considerations that should be factored into training. First, the imagery training should be a poly-sensory experience, vivid in nature, and place a strong emphasis on controllability (e.g. seeing yourself successfully perform a sport-specific skill). Second, athletes should implement a systematic program where they are frequently and regularly practicing imagery at designated times.
The more often athletes practice, the more ‘reps’ their brain will be getting which ultimately will translate into more efficient performances. Finally, athletes can use imagery to work on the following issues: learning and practicing sport skills, correcting mistakes, learning and practicing performance strategies, preparing a mental focus for competition, automating preperformance routines, building and enhancing mental skills, and aiding in the recovery of injuries. Remember, if this skill is good enough for the best drivers in the world to use, it’s probably just fine for the rest of us!
Note To Reader:
If you are an athlete reading this segment of the TRAINING REPORT, hopefully this content was helpful! I put the Training Report together because I felt like many of the discussions on issues such as the Yips/mental blocks, strength training & other subject matter on athlete performance concepts were really missing the mark on these ideas (e.g. how trauma is the direct cause of the Yips). If you are interested in learning more, make sure to subscribe below for when I put out new content on issues related to sport psychology & athlete performance! Also, if you are looking to work with a mental performance specialist, you are in the right place! USE THIS LINK to reach out to me to see if my services are the right fit for your goals!
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