Ahh grasshopper.......you have hit the nail on the head my friend. Three words that intertwine themselves into successful mental preparation for
anything are the three words you should be saying to yourself every day..........
Visualization + practice = confidence.
This formula is not finite, but those three words are all essential to produce the desired outcome.
As a pilot in pilot training, we would do something called "chair flying," where we would sit in a chair and go over the next day's flight in our minds over and over and over. We would also "cover all of the bases" by thinking of what COULD go wrong and how we would handle it. The more I would visualize the flight and "practice" how I would execute the mission, it would give me more and more confidence and the flight would usually go much better. "Practice" would also encompass things like studying aircraft systems, etc.
Preparation for an athletic event is much the same thing, except you can actually practice the event before the real thing happens. You can also study up on raquetball techniques (books, hands-on coaching, etc.) and all that stuff. Some of this may seem insignificant, but when you know that you are prepared for an event then your confidence will not let you down.
Knowing that you have done all that you can to prepare for something also lessens the pressure on you when the competition begins. From that point on, there is either win or lose. There is no "I coulda, woulda, shoulda" and second-guessing yourself before, during and after the match. This second-guessing (a by-product of lack of preparation) is the mental enemy of every competitor. The only way to get rid of it is to
be prepared, and your only thoughts from that point forward will be productive and healthy.
When not on the racquetball court and your mind is free, take the time to think about the upcoming tournament. Visualize yourself winning, of course, but also visualize the mistakes you may make. Slowly pick through these mistakes and "solve" them one by one until they are all gone. From that point onward, you'll do a lot of thinking about strategies and ways that you can defeat your competition. You'll have turned your defensive mindset into an offensive one.
So, be prepared physically, and go over everything in your mind. Have this done, and you'll be the one to beat at your upcoming tournament. Hope this helps, and good luck!
Chuck
note: I am not a licensed physical trainer, coach or psychologist. However, I did stay at a Holiday Inn Express last night!
