2. Don’t spend too much time looking at who you will be competing against. (1) All you need to know is what your job is when it’s your time to step on the field. You really don’t need to know the name of your opponents because that shouldn’t have an effect on your performance. (2) Over-analysis of other competitors leads you to “looking ahead” and playing “what if” scenarios in your head. (3) Looking at other athletes can make the game into more of an “event” which could add pressure.
3. Stay away from negative people/small time thinkers. Upsets happen to even the best athletes and teams. Everyone can be beat because no one is superhuman. The only person in the building who needs to believe in you is YOU.
4. Stay away from people who make you overthink or add pressure (certain team coaches, private coaches, parents, friends, teammates).
5. Stay positive and BELIEVE in yourself even when it’s tough to do so. Part of being mentally tough means staying stubbornly positive and optimistic despite adversity.
6. Before each game, maybe stretch or do some light drills. This will help keep you and your teammates loose and will lower anxiety from just sitting around waiting for game time.
7. Recharge your battery in between plays. Don’t watch a lot of the other people warm up so that you can detach yourself emotionally and mentally while you aren’t competing. Get away from the field when there is some time to do so. Leave the area and get some fresh air if you can.8. Use warm-ups like practice. Go all out during warm-ups to make sure your muscles and techniques are ready. Don’t tire yourself out too much; but do use the warm-up time to get you ready.
9. Don’t over or under eat/drink. Be full, but stop when you’re full. You should be fully hydrated when you compete.
10. Stay in the present moment. Don’t look ahead or behind. If you lost on a play or got beat, do NOT let the same opponent beat you twice. On the other side of the coin, do not celebrate or become too content when you win on a play, or fulfill/exceed other people’s expectations of you. Just stay focused on the game in front of you. In other words live play by play. Don’t let your mistakes carry over to the next play but when you get the best of your opponent continue to build and get stronger as the game goes on. Allow your confidence to grow when your doing good but also allow yourself to stay confident to let a bad play go and move on to the next play.
10.5 Take advantage of a Free Mindset Trial Session with our team.