Content

• Steps
• Method 1 of 4: Psychological Preparation
• Method 2 of 4: Team Spirit
• Method 3 of 4: Self-control
• Method 4 of 4: Preparing as a Cheerleader

Some matches are more important than others. Whether you are facing an old opponent or participating in a qualifying match for a major tournament, it is important to mentally set yourself up and charge your teammates with confidence in order to win. There are many simple steps you can take to help you prepare yourself.Also, an athlete or coach is able to cheer up the whole team. However, it is important not to overdo it so that the excitement does not rob you of the necessary concentration. Learn to control yourself and relieve stress.

Steps

Method 1 of 4: Psychological Preparation

1. 1 Stay active. Keep the body in good shape to maintain mental tone. Get up and start moving. If you must sit (for example, on a bus), find other ways to stay active. Examples:
   • walks at a brisk pace;
   • warm-up jogging;
   • jumping with arms and legs;
   • imitation of drumming;
   • clenching fists and raising hands to music.
2. 2 Say encouraging words to yourself. Maintain the necessary emotional state with encouraging phrases during training and warm-up. Scroll the words in your head or say them out loud to increase physical activity and kill two birds with one stone. Phrases don't have to be long. Focus on positive phrases and simple keywords with active verbs:
   • "Do not stop!"
   • Show them all!
   • "Forward!"
   • "Attack!"
3. 3 Get charged with music. Listen to music. Create a song list with inspirational lyrics (classic "Eye of the Tiger") or catchy energetic music (like "Lust for Life"). Don't listen to slow songs. Music should be full of energy like fast rock, punk, hip-hop or dance music.
   • Pay attention to songs with an accented bass line. Research shows that songs with a strong bass component cause a stronger desire to dominate than songs with a light bass accompaniment. A classic example is Queen's “Another One Bites the Dust”.
4. 4 Do not overdo it. Remember, after preparation, you still have a match to play. It is necessary not to burn out and understand how much effort it will take to make. How to avoid overvoltage before playing:
   • do not consume large amounts of caffeine and energy drinks;
   • warm up according to the instructions of the trainer;
   • try to get enough sleep on the eve of the game;
   • avoid excessive physical activity.

Method 2 of 4: Team Spirit

1. 1 Get together outside of training. Spend the day or evening before the game in a special way to make the match stand out from the rest. Do something new together to become closer and unite. Organize dinner, travel or watch an inspiring movie in the cinema.
   • You don't have to choose the day or evening before the match. Your schedules may simply not match, or the coach may want everyone to have a good rest before the game. The main thing is that the meeting itself should take place shortly before the match.
   • You can make the upcoming match the main topic of the evening if the conversations help strengthen your team spirit. You can also leave the conversations for workout and just have fun. The idea is to bond and build a team spirit regardless of the activity you choose.
2. 2 Watch old matches together. Get someone to film all the matches during the season. Then, before an important match, get the whole team together and revisit the best moments of past games. Revisit your best play or create a highlight cutscene from different matches.
   • This can be done on any day prior to the match. Schedule a viewing after one of your workouts, organize a special team meeting, or even watch a video while driving to a match or in the locker room.
3. 3 Sing with the whole team. Remember: music inspires achievement. As well as active actions. So why not combine both strategies to prepare and build team spirit at the same time.
   • Sing any song on the bus on your way to the match with fun to build camaraderie.
   • Choose a team anthem (or several) to serve as your warm-up battle song and to recharge your batteries before meeting.
4. 4 Give your parting speech. Focus your partners' attention on the upcoming meeting with words of encouragement. This can be done in training, meeting together, on match day, or even using all three options. The speech should be short (no more than a couple of minutes), since a long monologue can tire or cool the ardor of partners. Same:
   • Focus on positive affirmations. Don't focus on negative aspects. For example, if you have not won for a long time, then do not remember past results. In such a situation, it is better to focus on the latest successful workouts.
   • Say simple things. Do without strategic aspects and specific recommendations for individual players. Use general phrases like: "Victory is in our pocket" - and: "We are the best."
   • Focus on the team, not the individuals. There is no need to single out star players and weigh down their burdens so as not to unsettle partners. In addition, the pronoun "we" will strengthen the confidence of the rest of the players in their own strength.

Method 3 of 4: Self-control

1. 1 Treat an important match as just another game. Whether it's a qualifying match or against high-profile opponents, it's important to remember that it is no different from any other important match. Exclude the word "key" from the phrase "key match". Focus only on the inner elements of the match, which are important to victory, and not on the outer surroundings of the game and emotions.
   • Keep this in mind during your motivational speech. Do not preoccupy your partner with the cost of winning. Omit special circumstances and talk about the match like any other game.
2. 2 Neutralize your fears. Think about what might make you anxious during a match. Recognize that such aspects have no magical power over you, and the agitation is solely your reaction, not a magical spell. Challenge yourself and face your fears long before the big game. On match day, build confidence in yourself by remembering all the obstacles that you managed to overcome. For example:
   • if you are in doubt about some aspect of your ability (taking a 3-point shot in basketball or deflecting a penalty in football), practice those aspects in practice.
   • If the presence of a certain family member, friend or important person at the match makes you nervous, then invite him in advance to training, less important games, or even just watch your warm-up at home.
3. 3 Focus on your successes. As you think about yourself or your team, build confidence in yourself by thinking about your success in the current season. Focus on the game, not the results. Also, do not confuse these two different concepts if the season cannot be called successful. Always focus on improving personal skills and team interactions, regardless of the total number of victories.
   • Throughout the season, everyone has setbacks and setbacks. Think less of failure than your ability to recover quickly and get back on your feet. Tell yourself it’s okay to fall if you’re willing to rise again and again.
   • Remember, losing doesn't always mean you played poorly. Sometimes in lost matches we show our best game. Admit this fact and look not at the result.
4. 4 Eliminate other sources of stress. Follow your sports diet to eat right a few days and on the day of play. Also, remember to rest the previous week. A few days before the match, remove any distractions that might interfere with your preparation. For example:
   • Set up two alarms, confirm all aspects of travel preparation, and prepare and fold your uniforms, accessories and gear so you won't be late on match day.
   • Deal with distractions ahead of time, like homework and paying bills, so you don't have to worry about them while playing.
5. 5 Learn to relax. Remember that preparing yourself for an important match does not require you to become an angry beast.For example, you should not pump yourself up so much before a race so that you jerk off from the start at a fast pace, which is impossible to maintain the entire distance. At the moment, it is important to focus on the actions that need to be performed during the game. If you are overwhelmed by the importance of the upcoming match, try the following:
   • meditate to think about the present, not the future;
   • be distracted by books, movies, soft music, homework and meeting friends.
   • Before playing, make two lists with aspects within and outside your control so that you can better focus on activities that depend only on you.

Method 4 of 4: Preparing as a Cheerleader

1. 1 Dress in your team's colors. Show your dedication and buy a team uniform. You can purchase a kit, a sweater, a baseball cap, or other items. You can also review all the things in the closet and choose clothes of a suitable color. Show your support and identify with passionate fans so that this is how the rest of the audience perceives you.
   • You can even use makeup or leather paint to paint on your favorite team colors.
2. 2 Throw a party. Give emotion to others to recharge yourselves with emotion. Invite people before the match. Make an extra effort: decorate the meeting place and come up with themed entertainment. For example:
   • Buy colored napkins, plates, cups and other accessories to match your team's colors, or even products from the Official Fan Store.
   • make a cut of the best moments and victorious matches as background accompaniment;
   • organize quizzes about your favorite sport and favorite team;
   • gather information about matches, results, injured players and other factors.
3. 3 Don't sit at home. If you are not throwing a party, then arrange to watch the game in an unusual place. Make the event memorable and unlike watching morning cartoons, evening news or TV shows. For example:
   • buy tickets and watch the match on the podium;
   • go to a sports bar, restaurant or other venue where the match will be shown;
   • watch the game with friends or family.