Aspire in the World Fellows Book - 2022

47 46 Mariela Arangio: Psychologist – River Plate In 2014, we started the neuroscience department for the first time where we try to bring out the best possible performance on the field. One is the training of perceptual-cognitive skills, to try to develop a faster game, a game of effective performance. I look at the workload side with respect to the stress from the match or the training load. That stress generated by both the competition and the intense workload really makes the athlete feel overwhelmed. From there we implement different techniques such as yoga. We also address the issue of sleep as an important factor in recovery. We do everything from a practical side and from a theoretical side because it is important that the athlete understands it. From there, repetition establishes a habit. Individualizing the recovery strategy already happens when one is in contact with the athlete. Since we are in an area that we are constantly involved because I am in the coaching staff, we are with the athletes all day. We have an intervention that we work on as a group and a general objective is proposed. Later, there are conversations with the player and listening to the needs that he is having. Faced with these needs, we help him to see how he can recognize and identify what is happening to him. In my experience with Argentine players, it’s very difficult to find recovery strategies. We always try to see how open the group is to receive these techniques to realize how much we can introduce. Based on what they like, we begin to work and build the path to where we want to go. For education, we depend on the planning that the coach and the teacher have done weekly and the interventions in our area are complementary. We have moments of intervention before, during and after training as far as recovery is concerned. It is generally the day before the game, meditation mainly after the game as well, and one more weekly recovery too. Education is about the importance of rest, not only the number of hours, but good quality. We offer tips, such as stopping using screens an hour before, making dinner a little further away from sleep, trying to have an optimal environment and trying to always go to sleep at the same time. The monitors are used by some players, but we leave it up to the athlete’s decision in the first team. With the others, we can do it and there is not so much rejection. To have a good rest, the athlete first has to be very clear about who he is and how he is recognizing himself, knowing what he has to do to address what is happening to him from a biological point of view. Emotion cannot be controlled such as being nervous about the next game, but he can control his reaction to it. From there, through meditation, we give them breathing techniques. Having different types of techniques helps, so that the player can rest better. Another important thing is to be able to pay attention to the present moment, which is also to identify if I am here right now or if I am with my mind elsewhere. The main component would be to pay attention to breathing, this will bring the player to the present moment and free the mind from thoughts. When I manage to get into that state, I manage to fall asleep much faster.