In sports, when it comes to playoffs and tournaments, the season will come down to one game where the winning team will advance to the next round, or it can come to one game to determine the champion. Occasionally teams who have had a great season choke (negative losing sports experience under pressure) when the big moment comes and the season is over with an unexpected loss.
Why does this happen to excellent teams with great athletes? They are focused on the outcome, the must win game, the elimination game, the one and done – then when the big moment arrives the athletes are nervous, afraid to make mistakes, and they feel they are not ready. Everyone is tight, tense, and tentative. When something bad happens like a mistake or a bad play or a bad call by the referee, they may never regain enough composure to get back in the game. They are focused on the outcome which they have no control over. Even the world’s best athletes have no control over outcomes. What they do control is the process and the consistency with which they execute the little details.
Here are the 7 tips that will prepare you and your team to be confident for the big game:
1) Win the Day – How about forgetting about winning the game and focus on winning the day? By winning the day you focus on executing the little details of the game you can control and the results will take care of themselves (like winning the game). Executing the little details will make you feel comfortable and confident. In hockey, for example:
"Go out and stay in the present moment, have an I.P.R. when something bad happens, execute all the little details so you can win the day . . . SEE MORE OF THE COACHES SITE Join The Coaches Site to access the latest drills, tactics & leadership lessons from hockey's top coaches. Already a member? Login
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Enio Sacilotto
Enio Sacilotto is President of International Hockey Camps and operates the Mental Edge High Performance Training. Enio has 39 years of coaching experience (professional hockey in Europe and the WHL's Victoria Royals). Currently, he coaches at the Burnaby Winter Club Hockey Academy and the Croatian National Men's team. If you have questions or are interested in his services, contact Enio at [email protected] or call 604-255-4747
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