Super Bowl was pretty intense! This definitely wasn’t the best Super Bowl but the turnaround in the 3^rd and 4^th quarter left me GLUED to the screen. But as I was watching in awe and cringing on my nails, I realized how much pressure is put on athletes to perform. We all watch at home or at a party with excitement and anticipation but the players are the ones that need to push themselves and challenge their limits, mentally, in front of thousands of live fans as well as the millions that are watching from home. The pressure to perform is high whether you’re the quarterback for a Super Bowl match or the point guard for the NBA Finals.

Preparing for a game is an important factor to the success of the player during the game. There are many players on any level of play that simply can’t play at their optimum level because of stage fright or lack of confidence. The fact of the matter is the player must be confident and mentally picture himself to be able to shoot the ball, drive aggressively and be able to rip down the rebound. Michael Jordan said, “Obstacles don’t have to stop you. If you run into a wall, don’t turn around and give up. Figure out how to climb it, go through it, or work around it.” And I have to agree with Michael in the sense that fear can’t stop you and shouldn’t stop you.

In the NBA, players have clear rituals that are performed before, during and after a game. Most rituals are done before the game to hype them up and get them game ready. Lebron James is known for his powder ritual which he does before every game in front of the scorer’s table. Is a ritual the key to releasing your fear from performing? Possibly, but there are many different factors that work together that dictate how well you will perform. Let me break it down:

• Your state of mind

• Your nutrition (meals prior to the game)

• How well the body is rested

• Your strength training and conditioning

These are the main factors that affect your performance; If I missed one, comment on it and let me know. Anyways, you have to take these factors into account. I suggest working on the being rested well which means a solid 7-8 hours (Leno isn’t that funny, turn that TV off) and prepare proper, healthy meals that will help recover your body quicker.

I want to hear what you think of mental training. What do you do train and prepare yourself for games? What songs do you listen to or what’s your ritual?