Keeping motivation without objectives

2021 was marked by a series of competition cancellations and postponements, which may have resulted in a loss of meaning and motivation. Training and keeping motivation without objectives is also high performance. Top athletes, along with their coaches, had to tap into their resources to surpass themselves. In this tumultuous uncertainty, which usually adds charm to the world of sports, this year's events may have pushed the boundaries a bit too far. The COVID-19 pandemic unleashed a tidal wave that engulfed all sectors of society on an unprecedented scale. However, the prevailing uncertainty and its persistence on the competition calendar had the most significant impact on athletes' preparation.

Set goals

Typically, athletes set their goals based on the scheduled deadlines of competitions that punctuate the season. Yet, the constant stream of postponements and cancellations forced them to adapt and rethink their preparation without any immediate or near-term stakes. While top athletes are accustomed to moving forward without clear benchmarks or certainty, such as when dealing with injuries or non-renewed contracts, this situation was particularly challenging due to its novelty and unpredictability. Even when recovering from an injury, athletes always have a scheduled goal in mind—to return to competition—which serves as a driving force for their rehabilitation and re-athleticism. They draw motivation from this perspective.

However, during these past months, despite being able to continue training, the complete lack of visibility and upcoming events prevented athletes from projecting themselves forward.

A year of uncertainty

In 2021, nothing is certain. After experiencing a year in which the only certainty was uncertainty, it is not easy to find the necessary motivation and optimize one's level of patience. Doubts start to creep in as the return to competition seems to drift further away with each passing day. Even when federations are not forced to revise their competition plans, the virus itself invades and disrupts sports projects. For elite athletes, competition is their strength, which drives and motivates them daily. Removing that aspect takes away some of the meaning. The lack of goals can generate anxiety and a lack of motivation.

Many may question why they dedicate so many hours to training for nothing. Caught between hopes and disillusionment since the return to training, most athletes have had numerous questions and few answers. Some have experienced a true loss of benchmarks and their sporting identity.

Charlotte Lembach, the world fencing champion who has yet to find competing opportunities, doesn't hide the torments of the past months. She says, "I went through different phases of doubt. Seeing matches being canceled one after another and not having a clear prospect of recovery made me wonder if it was worth training so hard. Competitions provide objectives and validate the work done in training. I lacked benchmarks. But I quickly regained my composure because, in a team sport, if a player gives up, it is as if she is abandoning her team."

Challenges in training arise

To keep the team motivated and alert, creativity and innovation are necessary. Coaches propose new technical content, approaches, and training challenges to simulate competitions. However, even the coaches themselves have experienced destabilization. They had to be creative and successfully projected themselves during the lockdown. However, as training resumed, the structure that used to define their work—organizing their athletes' preparation and planning for future competitions—completely dissipated over time due to cancellations.

Psychologists and mental trainers are working with athletes and coaches to support them, fuel their passion, and help them find meaning. We needed to help them find or redefine sub-goals that adapt to the situation, work differently, and be creative with different intentions while maintaining a certain intensity to prepare for the eventual return to competition. Reassuring athletes and helping them understand that they can take advantage of this period to work on aspects they usually neglect—such as focusing, and developing new skills—can contribute to their growth and enhance their self-assurance and confidence, especially if they can see the progress they are making.

Training and Maintaining Motivation

The technical objective of progression could and even had to become central while competitions were relegated to a secondary role. In recent months, athletes have not trained solely for competition, but rather to progress and work extensively on their technical skills. Weeks of individualized work, with training sessions transformed into competition simulations and new activities to break the routine, have been followed by rest periods.

This period of calendar uncertainty, which still persists today, generates significant emotional fatigue. Even though competitions may gradually resume, sanitary measures can prevent athletes from participating at the last moment. A constant state of uncertainty has settled in, testing athletes by generating variable and intense emotions such as anxiety, sadness, loss of motivation, and above all, a loss of purpose. What is the point of training without competitions, without those regular events that provide benchmarks for personal progression?

Adaptability is key

Although athletes do not have control over the situation, they possess the common quality of adaptability and a desire for continuous improvement. Reinventing the everyday is crucial during such a period. It is necessary to find alternative challenges, work on areas within reach, emphasize quality over quantity, and learn to stay present and cultivate personal development beyond the realm of competition. This introspective work allows for personal and collective growth, making each moment, present and future, even more precious. The reduced schedule has allowed some athletes to push their limits in training, develop their technical potential without concerns about fatigue. This approach is already yielding positive results.

Gymnasts and trampolinists admit that they now have the time to understand more complex routines and incorporate new elements, which could make a difference when they return to competition. The ability to continue training despite the challenging health situation, which was not the case for all their foreign opponents, has created a better atmosphere. Some have realized that they can take advantage of this extra time to come back even stronger in preparation for 2022. Athletes have also taken the opportunity to gain a deeper understanding of their practice, find new meaning, heal injuries, and refocus on the essentials.

New Forms of Uncertainty

All temporalities are disrupted, impacting every aspect of sporting life as well as personal, professional, educational, social, and familial spheres. Athletes may find themselves questioning the purpose and significance of their practice, with deep concerns about their future and available resources. Athletes depend on bonuses and cash rewards earned from competitions in many disciplines, while sponsors may also reevaluate their support due to the economic impact.

We have transitioned from uncertainty surrounding calendars to encountering new forms of uncertainties, giving rise to new questions. It is crucial to adapt mentally and adjust to the new rules and health protocols, which can sometimes be extreme. How can we:

Anticipate and protect ourselves from the virus to avoid the need to withdraw from a competition if an athlete or staff member tests positive?

Prepare for the Tokyo Olympic Games, which will likely take place under strict sanitary conditions?

Navigate peacefully in front of empty stands?

In the coming months, we will focus on sharing and pooling experiences, strengthening support systems to address all demands and concerns. Refocusing on what we have control over and gaining perspective on the situation is a productive approach. This crisis has compelled us to reinvent our practices and redefine our relationships with others. Confronting the unknown can positively impact our careers. Training and maintaining motivation without specific goals is also a form of high performance.