Maximize Your Multi-Day Tournament Experience
As we are in the thick of the club season, schedules are full of high profile multi-day events. Now that President’s Day has come and gone, this means that these event spaces are full of college coaches seeking and evaluating…
Access all of Prep Dig
Continue reading this article and more.
Continue ReadingAs we are in the thick of the club season, schedules are full of high profile multi-day events. Now that President’s Day has come and gone, this means that these event spaces are full of college coaches seeking and evaluating prospects for their respective teams. As this can add some pressure to perform for some, this aspect should actually be among the lowest of priorities during competition although pre-event recruiting tasks should be considered. While competing, it is in the best interest of the athlete to focus on why they are there and do their best to be a good teammate, compete hard, and have confidence in the work they have done to continue developing their skills. Here are some tips for athletes regarding navigating a multi-day tournament.
PRE-TOURNAMENT
Prepare for play –
- Training opportunities are the best for improvement. This typically involves space and opportunity where you can take more risk to advance your skills through controlled and constructive environments. Additionally, training spaces allow for all athletes to get on the court and translate feedback to action. Get after it in your training preparation for upcoming tournaments in order to advance skills and develop confidence towards transferring those skills to competitive opportunities. Additionally, it is important to take care of your body physically. Pay attention to your nutrition and hydration as well as what your body is telling you regarding any fatigue or pain you might feel.
Reach out to coaches –
- For those that have started the recruiting process, it is wise to notify college coaches (of schools you are interested in) regarding where and when you will be competing. Although college coaches have their digital information that indicates which recruiting prospects are where each weekend, a quick note leading up to an event is a good way to reiterate your interest in their program. Keep the communication easy and simple.
Have a plan –
- As there are a lot of variables to consider before, during, and after a long tournament weekend, develop a plan of attack. Getting and staying organized will help to alleviate any stress or anxiety you might be feeling about competing. Limiting off-court issues starts with planning and organization of your trip, knowing and understanding the playing schedule, and being mindful of responsibilities that you have to yourself, your family, your school work, and your team. Develop a reasonable travel plan while also preparing mentally for any hiccups that may occur along the way as these are not uncommon.
Check and re-check your gear –
- Is everything in your bag? That question should be answered with a deliberate effort to confirm and reconfirm that all required gear is in your bag before starting your travel. If needed, make a checklist of all the things you feel you need to be as effective as possible while on the road.
TOURNAMENT PHASE
Develop a routine –
- Preparation is key to be able to perform at your peak level consistently. Developing routines is a great way to help train and frame your mind around competition opportunities. Routines can serve as triggers for your mind and body that help you dial into what is in front of you competitively both mentally and physically. You owe it to yourself and all the time, effort, and training you have put in the gym to arrive at a tournament as ready as possible to transfer that skill development to success in a match. Additionally, once you arrive at your court, leading up to a match, in-between matches, and once you step on the court to warm-up, utilize a routine to help you get locked in. Routines can also be developed regarding your nutrition and hydration to help keep you in top form.
Warm-up properly –
- As static stretching can help to loosen or elongate your muscles, dynamic movement and warm-up uses range of motion and is most effective regarding transitioning from sitting and waiting to jumping and swinging in a short period of time. As the movements are important to warm you up physically, it is also important to be mindful in these minutes so that the warm-up is intentional and that mentally you are closing the gap quicker to what is required of you upon the first whistle to begin the match.
Be available for whatever is needed –
- Whether you are a regular starter or someone that comes off the bench, know your role and understand that might change at any given time. Being available and positively responsive to the coaching leadership and decisions that require you to do certain things helps everyone out.
Watch and learn –
- Improving skills can occur in a variety of ways. One of the best opportunities to advance your knowledge and skills is by watching. Watch intentionally while your team is competing. The vantage point one has from the sideline can be very powerful and is quite different than the vantage point your teammate has in-between the lines. Between matches, watch other teams compete and pay attention to individual movement patterns and mechanics and teams moving around the floor together. Mindful development includes connecting what you are learning technically to what you are watching. Analyzing and evaluating the execution of skills and teamwork you are seeing can be very helpful. Further, if you have the opportunity to watch film of yourself and your team competing, this can also be a very useful tool during the tournament weekend.
Rest –
- As you are jumping, squatting, shuffling, and diving, this can certainly take a toll on your body and mind. Additionally, the competitive intensity that often accompanies these events can also be draining emotionally. Therefore, it is imperative that you rest. Build rest into your tournament routine so that your body is able to perform at peak levels for the duration of the event over the long weekend. Another important aspect is to get away from volleyball for a bit so as to refresh your connection to the event and your individual and team objectives as each day begins.
POST-TOURNAMENT
Reflect –
- Regardless of the outcome there is always opportunity to learn and improve. Even when winning, reflection upon that experience is critical towards the ability to sustain that success over longer periods of time for you individually and for your team. Also, analyzing data is a key element to help you understand areas of improvement as well as reasonable and measurable standards that indicate what is needed in order to create opportunities for success. If things did not go as planned, reflection certainly can serve to identify areas for improvement and help develop priorities among the various aspects of the game that need specific attention.