Building the Fight ON! Mentality
After COMPETING in practices, games, & events
A lot of players are usually hyped-up after a good game. It is however of importance to note that they need to rest well to ensure that they are rejuvenated before the next game. They should ensure they have an ice bath if possible, stay hydrated, eat high-quality protein and carbs to help strengthen muscles and restore their energy reserves.
These are a few things you should do after a good practice, game, or big event:
1. Focus on maintaining the intensity - Intensity is the way your mind and body become energized. There is no magical formula for achieving prime intensity. It will be different for each player. You would need to take a close look at what you did before and during a game. It is important to look at these factors from the last game, how it affected your play and work on how to improve them.
(1) Your physical state - What was that like pre-game? How relaxed were you and how did your body feel? Be as specific as possible. Did this change during the game? What was it like on the court and the bench?
(2) Thinking and feeling - What was going on in your head before and during the game? What were you feeling? Did this change when the game started?
(3) Social/Environmental Causes - Were you playing home or away, day or night? What was going on with the other players, coaches and at home? How was the team doing overall and how close a game was it?
Evaluate these and other factors that affected the game and work on how to improve on them as a team.
2. Review your Goals
Goals usually focus on improving a measurable skill, such as "I will increase my steals by two per game, get more offensive rebounds, or improve my shot selection".
In general, the following five strategies provide the basis for utilizing goal setting as a way for improving performance.
(1) Challenging yet realistic - Finding the right balance between pushing oneself without setting yourself up for failure. Example: Become a better player by passing only to an open player .
(2) Be specific - Put a number on it. Examples: Deny your player the ball six times per game. Get ten rebounds a game. Get two blocked shots each half.
(3) Breaking it down - Use short term goals as stepping stones toward long term goals. Example: Preseason: Add a three point shot to my game. Be more aggressive off the ball. Season - get five assists per game.
(4) Implement strategies to achieve goals - In order to obtain your specific goals, you must develop specific skills for achieving them. This can be broken down to three separate times of year.
- Off-season
Develop enhanced weight training/flexibility program
Study video tapes of professional games.
Talk with more advanced/skilled players.
- Pre-Season
Work with the coach on techniques & strategy
Observe the best players on own and opposing teams
Set specific goals for practice.
- Regular Seasons
Monitor progress
Continue to make refinements on skills during practice.
(5) Chart it - Absolutely critical. Needs to be part of daily routine. Get obsessive. Example: Use index card or make a chart. Put it in a visible place, such as inside your locker; make a copy and place it in your travel bag during away games.
(6) Evaluate - Crucial to continually evaluate and assess effectiveness of goals. Goals can change, need to evaluate with input from others (coaches, trainers, and performance specialists). Establish regular meeting times to evaluate goals. Example: Figure out the best time for regular meetings on progress and follow through with it.
Lastly, Foster team building during this period. You can arrange social gatherings for your team members, surprise birthday parties and so on. This will further help to increase the trust and bond between the team mates and thereby increase performance.
Use the Fight ON! Mentality to prepare for upcoming practices, big games, and competitions.
These are a few things you should do after a good practice, game, or big event:
1. Focus on maintaining the intensity - Intensity is the way your mind and body become energized. There is no magical formula for achieving prime intensity. It will be different for each player. You would need to take a close look at what you did before and during a game. It is important to look at these factors from the last game, how it affected your play and work on how to improve them.
(1) Your physical state - What was that like pre-game? How relaxed were you and how did your body feel? Be as specific as possible. Did this change during the game? What was it like on the court and the bench?
(2) Thinking and feeling - What was going on in your head before and during the game? What were you feeling? Did this change when the game started?
(3) Social/Environmental Causes - Were you playing home or away, day or night? What was going on with the other players, coaches and at home? How was the team doing overall and how close a game was it?
Evaluate these and other factors that affected the game and work on how to improve on them as a team.
2. Review your Goals
Goals usually focus on improving a measurable skill, such as "I will increase my steals by two per game, get more offensive rebounds, or improve my shot selection".
In general, the following five strategies provide the basis for utilizing goal setting as a way for improving performance.
(1) Challenging yet realistic - Finding the right balance between pushing oneself without setting yourself up for failure. Example: Become a better player by passing only to an open player .
(2) Be specific - Put a number on it. Examples: Deny your player the ball six times per game. Get ten rebounds a game. Get two blocked shots each half.
(3) Breaking it down - Use short term goals as stepping stones toward long term goals. Example: Preseason: Add a three point shot to my game. Be more aggressive off the ball. Season - get five assists per game.
(4) Implement strategies to achieve goals - In order to obtain your specific goals, you must develop specific skills for achieving them. This can be broken down to three separate times of year.
- Off-season
Develop enhanced weight training/flexibility program
Study video tapes of professional games.
Talk with more advanced/skilled players.
- Pre-Season
Work with the coach on techniques & strategy
Observe the best players on own and opposing teams
Set specific goals for practice.
- Regular Seasons
Monitor progress
Continue to make refinements on skills during practice.
(5) Chart it - Absolutely critical. Needs to be part of daily routine. Get obsessive. Example: Use index card or make a chart. Put it in a visible place, such as inside your locker; make a copy and place it in your travel bag during away games.
(6) Evaluate - Crucial to continually evaluate and assess effectiveness of goals. Goals can change, need to evaluate with input from others (coaches, trainers, and performance specialists). Establish regular meeting times to evaluate goals. Example: Figure out the best time for regular meetings on progress and follow through with it.
Lastly, Foster team building during this period. You can arrange social gatherings for your team members, surprise birthday parties and so on. This will further help to increase the trust and bond between the team mates and thereby increase performance.
Use the Fight ON! Mentality to prepare for upcoming practices, big games, and competitions.