10 Ways to Prepare For a Big Game

The big games are almost here!

There’s the FMCG Games coming up in May, and the Remita Corporate Champions Cup coming up on April 30th.

It’s the moment when you need to tie those shoe laces perfectly, get your fitness plan right, keep your jerseys in sight and and warm up for various events that would be taking place.
Just like you, everyone wants to win in football, track and field, tennis, chess and scrabble.
These are high stress situations, and you’ll need to stay prepared for it.

Here are 10 tips to help you prepare:

1. Create a practice and workout schedule with the game in mind. Consider doing lots of practice that will help you excel in the game you’ll be participating in. Practise makes Perfect!

2. Inform others about the big game. Ask your colleagues, family and friends to attend the game. You could request that they carry a placard with your team name, to help inspire your best performance. In general, talk about the game and try to get fans to attend.

3. Do team building activities before the game. Consider visiting the houses of your colleagues, coach and team members. Go out to eat the dinner with your team mates the night before. This will help you connect.

4. The night before, eat well and get enough sleep (around 8 hours). Lack of sleep can hurt your performance. If you are an athlete, consider ‘carbs’ (carbohydrate).

5. The night before, try to relax and not stress out over the game. Visualize winning, having fun and enjoying taking down your opponent.

6.  At least 2 days before, prepare your uniform/outfit for the game. Consider washing your uniform if it is dirty. Prepare your bag with any supplies you may need like an extra bottle of water. This way, when D-Day arrives, you do not need to stress out about finding these things.

7. Have music chosen so that you can listen to it on the way to the game and during warm ups to help get you in the mood to win.

8. Plan to arrive to the game early. This way you are not stressed out about showing up late because of traffic, upsetting your team mates/coach because you are late.

9. Set aside time before the game starts to visualize winning, to calm down by listening to music, to focus on meeting your objectives for the game.

10. Warm up with the team. If the team is not warming up right, warm up on your own. Make sure you warm up muscle sets relevant to the activity that you are engaging in.