How to Get Competition Ready?
I have been in many a locker room where teams are fired up and ready to go. This attitude shows in their performance out on the field. On the other hand I have been in locker rooms when the team just looks flat. They may be on a losing streak or be going into a big game they are expected to lose. No one is talking of strategy or plays, it is dead silent. If this is the case, ow do you then change their perception of themselves? How do you convince them they have a fighting chance out on the field? There are a few simple steps performance staff can implement to ensure their athletes are prepared come competition time.
Warm up
Nothing says “ready for competition” like a good warm up. Drills should be intense but not necessarily skill specific. Ensure strength coaches incorporate drills that work towards increasing blood flow throughout the body. This can be done through short sprints, shadow boxing, quick feet and somewhat physical contact drills. These drills will activate their ability to think quick and be prepared for the physical battle ahead.
Show them the data
I am yet to come across a high performance team or club that does not incorporate the use of GPS monitoring. These units can inform athletes, as well as staff, on what they actually do during both training and games, and this data does not lie. From distances covered, to max heart rates reached through to impacts, this information allows performance staff to know what athletes are in fact capable of. It is a great tool to implement before games, informing athletes of what they have completed in the past, instilling in them what they can do out on the field today.
Monitor them closely
Ensure athletes complete daily wellness questionnaires, covering fatigue levels through to readiness to train and muscle soreness. Regularly collecting this information creates patterns in the data, allowing performance staff to know when athletes are not within their normal limits. Following up on this information, in combination with GPS data, can often prevent injuries and overtraining from occurring.
Visualise the goal
Don’t underestimate the power of visualisation. It is one of the primary tools used in sports psychology. Athletes are often told what happens out on the field is a result of what happens within their mind. They need to believe they will win to be successful out on the field. Athletes also need to focus on their role within the game. Whether they are a goal kicker, a shooter or the playmaker, visualisation will assist in understanding their part in the game.
There you have it. These tips are simple and nothing out of the ordinary to what most athletes would be used to, pre competition. It is essential though to remind staff of these points prior to competition time, especially to a team on a losing streak. Whilst it is ultimately the athletes performance out on the field that will determine the outcome, performance staff can ensure they have done their job in getting their athletes competition ready.
Naomi Wallis
Product Manager
Naomi speaks all things functional movement. She loves it so much, she adopted it into her daily fitness routine. To say sport was ingrained in Naomi is an understatement.
In fact, she loved it so much, she went on to study sports science at university and has worked for some of the best NRL teams in the country.
Her world is revolved around the sport and she brings this enthusiasm to the table every single day.
