How to Prepare For the Big Game

Your youth sports team finished up a strong season by cruising through the playoffs, knocking out opponents and making it to the final match. Your competition? The only team you lost to all year, one that you fear might just have your number. What to do next?

First of all, if this describes anything close to a season you’ve participated in, you should be thrilled regardless of the outcome. And your young athletes should know that no matter what, the season was a success. But preparing for a championship game requires a specific type of focus. It’s important to give your kids the preparation needed to go into the game with confidence - not because you want to win, but because this is training they will be able to use throughout the remained of their lives for any important event.

It starts with the head…

As a coach, your job is to give your kids confidence and make them relaxed. Nerves right before the game is good - but the night before should be restful and loose. Consider having your group take part in a visualization session the practice before, in which they imagine themselves playing the game and succeeding. Then have a team dinner that night, watch a movie and relax. This will put their heads in the right place and have them ready to take on the opponent.

…and ends with the heart

You can’t be disappointed with a team that played with heart all season long and left it all on the floor by the end of the game. Your athletes need to know that - if they play with passion, they end the year with pride, win or lose. Plus, the team that gives more during the game always has a better chance of succeeding.

Youth sports athletes with focused minds and dedicated hearts are not only poised to succeed in a championship game, they have an excellent chance to lead successful lives. Many of the traits that are required to compete in a high-intensity, high-visibility game are the same ones required to progress as citizens.

If you’re a coach with a team sport website, you can use the Internet as means of offering advice and keeping your team focused on the goal. Plus, it can be a great place to list some motivational sports movies to give kids something to take their mind off the game.