MEN TA L PERFOMRA N CE
Paula Rule and Rangi Old Girl (2019) Ashlee Strawbridge, current Junior Tall Fern
THE POWER OF THE MIND
The Mental Performance Programme at Rangi Ruru has been running for four years and continues to go from strength to strength.
Run by Paula Rule, sessions have a holistic approach and aim to create a foundation for girls to build self-awareness, self-belief and mindsets that positively contribute to the school and wider community. The addition of the Mental Performance Programme has helped students at Rangi Ruru achieve local, regional, national and international success. While predominately sport focused, the Programme is also offered to students involved in the Stellar Music Programme.
At the heart of the Mental Performance Programme are four key objectives: 1
To empower Rangi girls to be the
2
o provide an environment where T students can openly discuss barriers to performance without fear of judgement, whilst being challenged to understand their specific behaviours and make adaptations to these behaviours where necessary
best versions of themselves
3
T o help understand that students identity as an athlete or musician is not directly linked to their identity as a person
4
o provide the girls with skills and T strategies to become mentally tough and resilient in both life and their chosen field
Common behavioural themes in these sessions include: • I mproving self-awareness by
recognising and understanding emotions
• I ncreasing situational awareness to be
able to respond in an effective way
• Understanding that the greatest test
of mental toughness is the choices that are made, when how we feel doesn’t always align with what we need to do
•C reating the mindset required, for
the action needed
Words by Paula Rule MENTAL PERFORMANCE COACH
•E ffectively managing focus
