Can Music Improve your Sports Training

Music and sports.  What a wonderful combination. And, apparently it also improves your performance while training and even while competing. According to the British Psychological Society, listening to your own choice of music can improve your enjoyment in competitive sports and improve your performance.

Study participants were assessed before and after training and competitions, with and without their favorite music. Listening to their music increased the rating of \’being in the zone\’ across all groups with the biggest effect during training sessions. (1)

When working out to music make sure that you have the appropriate equipment.  Something small, compact, and that will not get in the way is perfect.  An MP3 player or iPod works very well.  The earpiece or earpieces should fit in your ears just right without long cords getting in the way of your chosen exercise.  A playlist with just the right music incorporated in to just the right places is also necessary and can help you to improve your exercise training.

When you exercise you should always begin with a warm up.  This should take approximately 10 minutes.  Since warm up starts off slowly the first 10 minutes should also be a slow to moderate beat.

Select your favorite songs and do not be afraid to mix some slow music with some fast music.  The next phase of your exercise should be the most intense part of the workout in your sports training.  Some fast-paced music, especially if you use jogging or running as your work out of choice would be appropriate for the next 15 minutes or so.

Keep the tempo upbeat, as you will be moving right along.  As you approach the next phase of your sports training program, the cooling down phase, slow things down a bit with tapering to an even slower paced song near the ending of your exercise routine.  At this point you will need to slow yourself and your heart rate down.

The final point of the exercise routine or sports training routine would be some stretching.  The songs selected for this would be a very slow and relaxing tempo as you are trying to calm yourself.  Let your mind and body relax while feeling every stretch.

There are some people who prefer to do their sports training routine without the musical addition and some people definitely should not, such as those who bicycle as a form of sports training.  This would definitely be a safety issue.  Playing your music too loud would also be an issue so make sure that if you do use earpieces to listen that you can hear what is going on in the world around you as well.  Can music improve your sports training?

(1) British Psychological Society: Listening to Your Favorite Music Boosts Performance

RESOURCES

The Sport Journal from United States Sports Academy: Music in Sport and Exercise

Athletic Insight; Online Journal of Sports Psychology: Listen Up!

Live Science: Analyzing the Power of Music

Peak Performance: Sport Psychology