Preparing for the Big Tournament
Every season has some tournaments that are more important than others. The preparation required of coaches and athletes in these tournaments is usually quite different from the other tournaments throughout the season. Athletes and coaches may be more stressed and intense at these times, and the expectation of execution from both a team and individual perspective is high. Some examples of this would be coaches becoming more detail-focused in game planning, game coaching, and in expectation of athlete preparation. Veteran athletes who have been through many important tournaments may expect a higher level of performance from inexperienced players and every component of the game becomes magnified. Inexperienced players may notice a deterioration in their execution of play.
As winning becomes more important, floor time in these tournaments may change for certain players: better players play more and developing players play less. Pre-game preparation is more important and may include team meetings, classification sessions, measurement of chairs prior to the game, etc. These extra pre-game activities increase anxiety levels amongst the athletes and the coaches and will exacerbate the intensity already felt.
The best example of this response to important tournaments can be seen at playoff time in the NHL: the pace of play increases from regular season, every play and game is analyzed in detail by players and coaches, and teams and players must learn to deal with failure and success from game to game.
Here are some thoughts on how to cope with the stress of an important tournament:
• Develop a personal checklist for yourself of what you need to be at your best.
• Understand what you do well as a player and a team.
• Use positive self-talk to deal with frustration, disappointment, anxiety and high expectations.
• Eat and sleep well
• Stay focused on the things that you can control and let go of those things that you cannot control.
• Look for support from veterans who have already been through these stressful tournaments
• Draw from your experiences where you had success during the season.
