Like many sportspersons around the world, badminton player Ashwini Ponnappa is finding her way through uncertain times.

The Tokyo Olympics has been postponed to 2021, there is little clarity over the new Olympic qualification period, and no one even knows when international sport will resume.

All that Ashwini confined to her home here on account of the coronavirus-inflicted lockdown can do is to stay fit and ready when the time comes to return to the court.

This is the most important period for us. We have to stay motivated to train and do our exercises. There are days when you dont feel like doing anything. You dont even know what day of the week it is. In this situation, self-motivation is important, Ashwini, a Red Bull athlete, said.

It helps that national coach P. Gopi Chand, Ashwini and other India international shuttlers are part of a WhatsApp group. Gopi sir motivates us through our group. He gives us exercises, and he conducts group classes, Ashwini, who partners Sikki Reddy in womens doubles, said.

While the International Olympic Committee (IOC) has set 29 June 2021 as a general Olympic qualification period deadline, it is up to the individual sports federations like the Badminton World Federation (BWF) to take their own final decision.

It is confusing. It would be nice to know the qualification criteria. That being said, clarity cannot emerge until the coronavirus outbreak subsides and things return to normal. Until then, you have to train and be ready to get back on court, Ashwini said.

Ideally, the BWF should extend the qualification period by how many ever months have been lost. In fact, the more time given the better. But if the cut-off is set at the 2020 All England Open (which concluded last month), that will be sad, Ashwini said.

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Self-motivation is important: Ashwini - The Hindu

Even though Im not a runner, Ive been doing the bodyweight strength training workouts on IG live with runnersworldcoach.katie_fogel

Zwifting, virtual yoga, virtual training classes!chainringqueen

Hitting the Alps, Tour of Utah, and Moab, Utah trails every day on my NordicTrack S22i iFit! Follows by a yoga session on the beaches of Thailand.oldhamtroy

Lifting weights and sprints on my BMX bike. Skate park riding if theres no one around!jimmacnaughton

Im a new dad and dont want my kid to think I look dumpy when hes older, so lots of walking the dog and turned the garage into a mini-gym and got one of those Tacx tablet mounts to do workouts from GCN on YouTube.keylorhalbur

Yes! Workouts are now in the living room, kitchen, sidewalks, some rides outside while we are allowed, using my @tacx trainer and Zwift for a ride around NYC, doing HIIT and Yoga classes live. It helps that as a Yoga teacher I have also been practicing and hosting live yoga classes! Keeping my mind healthy, body strong and soul lifting!!angelalifespark

Virtual training early morning then yoga, breakfast, and saxo practice. Afternoons ride as weather permit and movie nights....with popcorn for sure.sr.robertcala

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How Cyclists Are Staying Motivated and Active at Home During Social Distancing - Bicycling

HONG KONG: The Covid-19 (coronavirus) pandemic is a big challenge for athletes. Those who train for the love of the sport have an advantage over those who need clearly defined goals, a sports psychologist says - with motivation being the key element.

Training on through coronavirus-related lockdowns and other restrictions is a daunting task in itself, with motivation the driving force.

And according to German sports psychologist Oliver Stoll, athletes in individual sports have an advantage over those from team sports who can only train in small groups, if at all.

Stoll acknowledges that those from athletics don't have the tracks and fields available, and swimmers can't train in the pools, but that nonetheless "team sports athletes are much worse off.

"Nothing at all is going for them. Except from being online or can playing the garden with their families," he said.

Some football clubs like Bundesliga champions Bayern Munich have resorted to cyber training and others have permission to be at the training ground in small groups.

Individual sports athletes have also had to change their training routines but at least decide on their own how to proceed, with motivation being the key factor.

"The question is why I do sport? If I am intrinsically motivated I do it for the sake of the activity, because I love it. An award is first of all no factor," Stoll said.

"When I am extrinsically motivated I do it because of the result," he said, referring to promotion into another league, a winners' party, a finisher t-shirt or a medal.

Stoll, who has been working with the national diving team since 2008 and took part in the Hawaii ironman in 1988, said that intrinsically motivated athletes have a clear edge at the moment, with events cancelled and no one knowing when leagues can resume.

Stoll said it helps to be "intrinsically motivated and active because you love it, and are not looking at a special award directly related to it."

Top athletes such as race walker Christopher Linke, who came fourth at last year's world championships in Doha, don't necessarily fall into that group.

Linke readily admitted he has completely lost his motivation and doesn't know what he is training for.

"I am not an athlete who likes to train without goals. I don't go to training because I enjoy it so much but because I know it is part of being able to achieve a top result," Linke said.

Hurdler Pamela Dutkiewicz, a 2017 worlds bronze medallist, said: "In sports, goals are clearly defined, and linked with a certain day and even time. I adhere to the guidelines ... But the aimlessness of not knowing exactly what will happen when, or at all, is really difficult."

Stoll meanwhile said that it is also possible to run a marathon even without a competition, looking at those - mainly amateurs - who have prepared for all those spring races over 42.195km which have been cancelled.

"You can have the aim of running 42km. And if it is important to prove that you can run 42km you don't need a competition. If you want to," Stoll said. - dpa/Asian News Network

Continued here:
Motivation the key in coronavirus times, says sports psychologist - The Star Online

Scott McTominay is determined to keep improving and do more at Manchester United, with the Scotland international hoping to have put injury struggles behind him.

The 23-year-old had to be patient when stepping out of a famed academy system at Old Trafford, but his persistence was rewarded when he broke through under Jose Mourinho.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has also found a regular role for the hard-working midfielder within his plans.

McTominay was, however, restricted to spectator role for two months earlier in the 2019-20 campaign after suffering knee ligament damage in a Boxing Day clash with Newcastle.

He worked his way back to fitness in time to score a memorable late effort in a derby win over Manchester City, but is taking in another enforced break during the coronavirus pandemic.

McTominay feels better prepared for a spell without football after spending time on the treatment table and is eager to take his game to even greater heights when cleared to return to the field.

He told Uniteds official app of his past experience and future ambition: I had a couple of injuries which were difficult to deal with mentally.

For me that is one of the main priorities, keeping your head screwed on mentally.

Physically I've always had that attitude to keep improving and wanting to do more and more to sustain yourself in the team, and keep yourself in the best shape as possible.

For me that has just been normal for me.

McTominay added on being in lockdown: I've had a training partner, Callum, who's asking me the questions, and we've had a really good week or two of training and eating all right foods, and staying on top of it.

So I feel like that motivation comes from him as well and everyone around me who are good people. So for me that is important.

United had worked their way back into contention for a top-four finish prior to football shutting down, while also reaching the quarter-finals of the FA Cup and Europa League, with Solskjaers side hoping that a green light will be given to complete their fixture list at some stage.

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McTominay motivated to keep improving at Man Utd following injury frustration - Yahoo Sports

BOSTON (CBS) Tom Brady admits that when he first joined the Patriots way back in 2000, it took some time for the West Coast boy to familiarize himself to a new place where the Atlantic Ocean is to the east, rather than having the Pacific Ocean to the west. Now some 20 years later, Brady will now go through the trouble of getting himself comfortable in a city where the Gulf of Mexico is to his west. Hell probably figure it out.

That was but one of numerous topics covered by Brady in a new story written for The Players Tribune.

The Buccaneers quarterback (thats still difficult to get used to) reflected on his lengthy career with the Patriots, talked about his development as a human and as a parent, and looked forward to what lies ahead in his career. Perhaps most interesting of all, Brady detailed exactly what is driving him to continue playing in the NFL even as he enters his age 43 season.

For me, playing football isnt going to last another 10 years, Brady wrote. In the time left, the question is, How can I keep maximizing what I do, put everything I can into it, make it the best I possibly can?At this point in my career, the only person I have to prove anything to is myself.Physically, Im as capable of doing my job as Ive ever been.Now I want to see whatmore I can do. I want to see how great I can be. I want to hear other people say, Go, man. Nowthatswhat weve been missing.Thatswhat we need!Thats what weve been looking for! Deep down I know what I can do. I know what I can bring. Now I want to see it in action.

While Brady said playing in the same place for 20 years can be an advantage, he now expects to benefit from the element of change.

Playing for one team for 20 years has been an amazing ride and experience. But doing the same thing year after year brings its own challenges. A familiar rhythm can be comforting and great. But it can also make you lose sight of other rhythms, newer ones that remind you of everything that hasnt been done yet, Brady explained. One isnt necessarily better than another theyre different, is all. Playing for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers is a change, a challenge, an opportunity to lead and collaborate, and also to be seen and heard.

Brady added: Right now, though, I have things toproveto myself. The only way is through. If I dont go for it, Ill never know what I could have accomplished. Wanting to do something is different from actually doing it. If I stood at the bottom of a mountain, and told myself I could scale the highest peak, but then didnt do anything about it, whats the point of that?

Climbing that mountain has always been Bradys goal, and hes done it more than anyone else as evidenced by his six Super Bowl rings and three other Super Bowl appearances. Winning another championship with an organization like Tampa Bay, which hasnt won a playoff game since 2002, would represent the ultimate climb.

As for his time with the Patriots, Brady expressed extreme gratitude toward the organization, his teammates, and the fans.

Recently a friend told me that her sister was pregnant with her first child, a boy and that she planned on naming him Brady. She was telling me this, she said, so that Id realize the impact my playing for New England had had on so many peoples lives, Brady said. Hearing that, I felt so humbled by the idea that when some people think of me, its with a warmth in their heart or their spirit. Theres no better legacy I can think of than that.

More here:
Tom Brady Details Motivation For Joining Buccaneers: Only Person I Have To Prove Anything To Is Myself - CBS Boston

This year's AFL premiership can't be won during the competition shutdown - but it might be lost.

That's one of the countless hurdles facing all 18 playing groups right now.

And right at the heart of it is one simple, yet crucial, piece of the flag puzzle: Motivation.

How well will players operate in isolation when, at this stage, there is no real light at the end of the tunnel?

"You can't do what's been normal," Essendon coach John Worsfold said.

"The motivation is to do better than what anyone else can in the same situation.

"If you challenge players with that, they'll find a way.

"I've challenged the players to challenge themselves to be better in isolation, in terms of being prepped and ready for footy when it starts again, than anyone else."

When the season resumes is anybody's guess as the AFL prepares to unveil its plan forward in late April.

How much detail and certainty the plan will provide is a mystery amid ever-changing advice and restrictions from relevant government and health authorities.

Worsfold is wary that frustration and anxiousness will be among a wide variety of emotions players feel during the shutdown period, as well as a possible lack of motivation, and Essendon have tailored their program accordingly.

"We're working hard to try and be aware of how they're feeling and those sorts of emotions that they're going to go through," Worsfold said.

"We've given the players a bit of a spell from football education over the first couple of weeks (of shutdown) but we've got stuff that's now going to get filtered out to players.

"There's some learning opportunities around the game plan that we've been building and what we've learnt from round one.

"The players that I've spoken to are really keen to see that now and they want to start to look at some footy and what they can learn and what we can keep building on."

Melbourne coach Simon Goodwin believes any motivation issues experienced during the shutdown period will vanish once clubs are eventually given the green light to resume more normal operation.

"It's hard to get a guide on that until we get our boys back in and around the footy club but I think when everyone's living the way they're living it makes you value the things that you love," Goodwin said.

"What I do know about a lot of footballers is they love playing the game, they love training and they love being around each other.

"So when we get back into that situation I'm sure the motivation will be really high.

"I'm sure they'll jump back into it and I'm sure they're missing it right now."

Go here to read the rest:
Motivation a key factor in AFL shutdown - ESPN Australia

Nicklaus admitted that he heard the noise, and the article was even pinned up on his refrigerator as bulletin board material by his friend John Montgomery.

I had to look at it every time I opened up the refrigerator, Nicklaus said. That was okay. I think the article was very justified. I was getting old and I was playing not very well.

But as we all know, that was not the case that fateful week in Augusta. Nicklaus found his old form, culminating in a Sunday 65 that earned him his sixth green jacket and final PGA Tour victory.

As Nicklaus told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution years later, To tell you the truth, I kind of agreed with Tom, Im afraid, but it helped get me going.

McCollister poked the bear, and it resulted in one of the greatest triumphs in golf history.

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Jack Nicklaus recounts the jab that motivated him to win the 1986 Masters - Golf.com

Motivational speaker Eric Thomas has become a go-to source of inspiration for NBA players.

Eric WoodyardESPN

JOSH OKOGIE ALMOST missed the text. It was 10 days after the NBA season was suspended, and the Minnesota Timberwolves wing was sleeping in. But he woke up to a message that the team had organized a conference call with world-renowned motivational speaker Eric Thomas -- also known as "ET The Hip-Hop Preacher."

"I wasn't even going to join it, but when I saw it was ET, I had to hear him. I joined the call, and he was talking about how the ball is still bouncing," Okogie said. "He was talking about how the season is suspended and the physical ball isn't still bouncing, but just because the ball stops bouncing on the court, it doesn't mean the ball stops bouncing in life.

"And all the coaches were like, 'Wow.' Even I was like, 'Wow.'"

Okogie had been pushing Timberwolves assistant general manager Joe Branch all season to get Thomas to speak to the team. He'd met Thomas last summer while working out at the Chris Paul Basketball Academy. Thomas, who has a close relationship with Paul, made an immediate impact on Okogie. His speaking schedule hadn't lined up with the Timberwolves' plans during the season, but the team was able to bring him in during the most uncertain time the NBA has ever faced.

Thomas spoke to Timberwolves players, coaches and staff for 28 minutes, sharing an uplifting message as he urged players to take a positive outlook.

"Let's write a list of what we have. Let's not focus on what we don't have," Thomas told ESPN he said to the team. "What we don't have, we're going to get that back, but what we have is what we need to focus on because if we don't focus on what we have then we'll be back to what we don't have.

"This game is already a game of inches and not just inches in terms of the game itself," he continued. "It's inches in terms of mental [health], so it's important to cling to what they have instead of what they don't have."

2 Related

Mental health has become a priority issue for the NBA in recent years, particularly after DeMar DeRozan and Kevin Love came forward to discuss their mental health experiences. And while the league offers multiple official support systems for its players -- systems that NBA officials acknowledge might be needed more than ever with the league on hiatus -- Thomas has become the unofficial go-to source of support for players around the league. He's someone they know they can lean on when they're going through difficult times, whether through a personal connection or just through the inspirational messages he posts on social media.

"ET is just a ball of light," Cleveland Cavaliers center Andre Drummond told ESPN earlier this season. "His energy, his inspiration, the way he views life and the way he can inspire so many people just by his words is huge. Sometimes I listen to his stuff whenever I'm feeling off or I need a certain message. He has messages for all different types of things."

Thomas has shared his messages directly with NBA veterans such as Drummond, Paul and Kyrie Irving. He has connected with rookies, including Zion Williamson, as part of the NBA's annual rookie symposium. Players point to his rise from his humble beginnings and his raw, powerful delivery of his messages as sources of inspiration.

Now, with the NBA on hold and no return date in sight, Thomas finds those messages resonating like never before.

MORE: Latest NBA news and coronavirus updates

CHRIS PAUL WAS heading into his first postseason with the Houston Rockets. He'd teamed with MVP James Harden to lead the Rockets to the most successful regular season in team history and the top seed in the Western Conference.

And, while he hadn't heard from Thomas for months, he wasn't surprised to see his trusted adviser's name pop up on his phone. They initially connected when Thomas spoke to Paul while he was with the Clippers, then stayed in touch as the veteran point guard changed cities, with Paul even inviting him to speak at his North Carolina summer basketball camps.

"It's a lot of people that want to see your demise. A lot of people want you to hurt. A lot of people want to take your spot," Thomas told Paul through a voicemail. "So, you've got to understand that and let that fuel you to take your game to a whole different level."

Paul got the Rockets within a win of the NBA Finals before a hamstring injury knocked him out of the series against the Golden State Warriors, who went on to win the title. A year later, Thomas and Paul connected again, with the Houston Rockets point guard presenting the speaker with a customized pair of his Jordan CP3.XII signature sneakers featuring motivational quotes from Thomas such as, "Avoid being your own enemy" and "Most of you don't want success as much as you want to sleep."

Said Paul: "ET is always somebody I know that's going to kick it to me straight. He just makes you be more than you think you can. When I think of ET, I just think of pushing myself. Whenever you think that you have gone as far as you can, you can go a little further."

The NBA announced that due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, the 2019-20 season would be suspended effective March 12.

Latest news Silver: No decision until at least May NBA eyes potential rapid-test options NBA: No in-person draft workouts Full list of cancellations, suspensions

Thomas rose to the top of his profession despite being a homeless high school dropout. He was born in Chicago to a teenage mother but was raised primarily in Detroit. His biological father wasn't in his life until Thomas was 30.

Thomas spent 12 years working toward getting his bachelor's degree from Oakwood University in Huntsville, Alabama, in 2001, and went on to earn his master's and doctorate from Michigan State University.

He got his big break in 2008 after a speech at Michigan State, where he was working as an academic adviser. He challenged the students in the audience to "wanna succeed as bad as they wanna breathe." The speech was posted to YouTube, where it racked up more than 2 million views.

Thomas now averages 120-200 speeches per year and has worked with numerous professional sports teams including the LA Clippers, Milwaukee Bucks, Cleveland Cavaliers, Houston Rockets, Detroit Pistons, Atlanta Hawks and Charlotte Hornets.

"I look at his Instagram every day," Hornets forward Miles Bridges said. "I watch his videos all the time before games because he's really inspiring and he motivates me, so I try to look at him all the time. I can come to the game unfocused and watch one of his videos and just lock in right away. That's how powerful he is with his speaking, so I don't think people give him enough credit for that."

Thomas posts inspirational messages every day on Instagram, where he has 1.5 million followers -- dozens of whom play in the NBA. He has more than 435,000 followers on Twitter. Among the notable sports figures who follow his social media accounts are NBA All-Stars Irving, Drummond, Isaiah Thomas, Damian Lillard, Draymond Green, Khris Middleton and Devin Booker.

Thomas is also using his social media platform to reach people more directly because of the current global state. After he noticed the spread of COVID-19, he posted his cellphone number in his social media bio, encouraging those in need of motivation to reach out. Timberwolves coach Ryan Saunders did so, and the two have since been in touch daily.

The league added Thomas to its lineup of speakers at the mandatory four-day, NBA Rookie Transition Program 2016. For many newcomers to the league, it's the first time they see him speak in person.

"His speeches are phenomenal," Williamson said. "The way he breaks down wanting to be great, he breaks it down in such a way that you've got to truly look yourself in the mirror and say, 'Do I want to be great or am I just saying I want to be great?' He fuels you to go above and beyond."

SNOW HADN'T YET fallen in Denver, but the days were sometimes gloomy for new Denver Nuggets addition Isaiah Thomas in September 2018.

The two-time All-Star was in an unfamiliar situation, on a one-year deal while rehabbing from hip surgery, when he discovered a new source of inspiration while scrolling through his Instagram feed.

Thomas found one of Eric Thomas' inspirational posts and sent him a direct message. It got an immediate response. Now the free-agent point guard considers the motivational speaker one of his best friends.

"I wish it was mandatory for every professional team to have to sit down and listen to him talk," said Isaiah Thomas, who is not related to the speaker. "I know if you heard him talk and the passion that he talks with, it's going to resonate with all walks of life. It doesn't matter, and that's the type of people I want to be around at all times."

Lately, the two have connected again frequently, with Isaiah Thomas facing the uncertain future of being a recently released free agent in a league currently on hiatus and in a player transaction moratorium. Eric Thomas has also reached out to Allen Crabbe, who was waived by the Timberwolves in late February. Both players assured the motivational speaker that they're in a strong mental space as they try to make their way back.

Look back at Jackie MacMullan's five-part series on mental health issues in the NBA from 2018:

The state of mental health in the NBA Mental health in the NBA's black community To medicate or not? A difficult decision Behind the anxiety and anger of an NBA ref The future of mental health in the NBA

Thomas isn't the only option for players in similar situations. The NBA requires teams to provide players access to licensed, clinical mental health professionals at all times. Dr. William Parham, the National Basketball Players Association's director of mental and health wellness, and NBPA player wellness counselor Keyon Dooling have also launched virtual office hours, where players past and present can talk about how best to manage their mental well-being.

"There's a whole bunch that our guys grapple with, and I'm so thankful that we put this infrastructure in place because a lot of guys haven't processed their journeys," said Dooling, who played 13 seasons in the NBA. "They've been too busy achieving, and in quiet moments like this, I think it's a great opportunity."

A communication from the league office was sent to all teams during the week of the NBA suspension about the impact the COVID-19 pandemic might have on mental and emotional well-being. The memo included customized documents with tips, resources and information from mental health and wellness partners, providers and consultants, to help players, team staff and their families maintain mental wellness.

That's why the Timberwolves took on the initiative to collaborate with Thomas.

"We pride ourselves in being player-centric, and as we face this incredibly difficult time, we are looking for ways to thoroughly support our players," Timberwolves president Gersson Rosas told ESPN. "Eric Thomas has a powerful voice with a strong message, and we believe his perspective will encourage our players to stay connected and to motivate them to get through the current challenges we are all facing."

Having their routines taken from them while the league is on hiatus has presented a new and even more difficult challenge. Social distancing has created an environment where players -- used to being surrounded by teammates and fans -- no longer have that daily personal contact.

"A lot of people are isolated," Okogie said. "So definitely, that message pertains in terms of mental health. What can you do to take away from that feeling of being alone?"

One of Thomas' consistent messages is that even in times of isolation, players never have to feel as if they're alone.

"I feel like once we connect, I'm like a shepherd," Thomas said, "and it's my responsibility to not only give you lip service or give you a motivational presentation, it's my responsibility to kind of walk with you as much as you will allow me to walk with you."

ESPN's Malika Andrews contributed to this report.

See more here:
How Eric Thomas, the hip-hop preacher, has become the go-to motivational speaker for NBA players - ESPN

(WBNG) -- A local health and wellness professor, World champion athlete, motivational speaker, author, and world record holder, Bill Clark, shares advice on how to deal with the current pandemic and the worry associated.

Clark has been featured on ESPN, was the number one watched Guinness World Records social media star of 2019, and was put on the inside cover of the 2019 Guinness Book of World Records. The power lifter has been put into just about every strength hall of fame and speaks to schools and audiences as he demonstrates his strength and gives his "world champion advice."

"I'm struggling with everyone else," Clark says. "Don't confuse concern with worry. Concern allows us to be aware of problems so that we can be optimal in developing strategies moving forward. Worry is concern that's unregulated, it takes over."

For more information, visit Bill Clark's website here.

See original here:
World champion athlete and motivational speaker on how to deal with worrying during pandemic - WBNG-TV

Opened in May 2016, Rafa Nadal Academy has been passing the vision of one of the greatest players of all time onto the new generation of future tennis stars, offering them the best possible facilities at his Rafa Nadal Academy in Manacor.

The Academy provides the top-tier conditions for the upcoming youngster, giving them a chance to improve the various elements of their tennis alongside highly-skilled and trained coaches from Spain and other parts of the world.

Also, some established players like Casper Ruud and Jaume Munar train in Mallorca regularly, often with Nadal himself, if he is at home. The recent setbacks with the coronavirus pandemic have forced the Academy to keep both the players and staff as isolated as possible from outside factors, closing facilities and taking good care of all the people who are currently on the Academy site.

Besides tennis, Nadal's students at the Academy have the opportunity to take care of their education as well, with Rafa Nadal International School allowing them to combine tennis and studies. Each student is prepared to face the university entrance system - including access to American institutions through scholarships, which is extremely important if they want to embrace college tennis and work more on their education.

Nadal had a message for his students who are taking classes from home, highlighting the importance of their parents and appreciating the teachers for their efforts to make the courses possible in these extreme conditions.

"During this time of confinement in which school life has changed completely, Rafa Nadal wanted to send a message of encouragement to all the students of the Rafa Nadal International School who are doing online classes from their homes during these days.

Rafa himself also wanted to highlight the important work of the parents in this process and thank the teachers for their efforts and tremendous involvement in making classes possible. Although the original concept of the school was designed with the aim that the tennis players at the Academy could combine their tennis training with academics, Rafa wanted to open the doors to all the young people of Mallorca from the very beginning, whether they were tennis players or not, so that everyone could benefit from the facilities and the academic program."

Read more here:
Rafael Nadal sends motivation message to students of his International School - Tennis World USA