Preparing for Provincial Championships – resources & tips from our Mental Health Ambassadors

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08 Apr 2024 00:13

In our Annual Member Survey, a significant percentage of respondents said that they experienced performance anxiety or fear of failure during the season. And as we head into Provincial and National Championships, players, coaches, and referees all start to experience increased pressure and heightened emotions.

Below are tips from our Mental Health Ambassadors for handling this stressful time and some resources that we hope you will find helpful at this time. You got this!

tips from derek thiessen

1. Mental preparation for challenges

Prepare yourself mentally for the challenges you may encounter, both physically and mentally, and have steps in place ahead of time to better manage them when they arise. For example, if you know that after playing several games in one day, you’ll feel drained and in need of recovery, plan ahead. Consider what actions you can take to aid your recovery, such as proper hydration, nutrition, and rest. Similarly, if you tend to beat yourself up and go silent on the court when you make mistakes, identify reminders that will be encouraging and supportive. Additionally, determine who you can turn to for support if you notice yourself starting to withdraw.

2. focus on what you can control

Ask yourself two questions: What is within my control today, and what is not? Then, focus on taking action on the things you can control, such as your words, actions, and effort. By concentrating on the aspects of the game that are within your control, you can maintain a positive mindset and optimize your performance.

3. be kind to yourself

If you find yourself upset over a mistake you’ve made, or several mistakes, consider how you would treat a teammate in the same situation. If you wouldn’t be as harsh on them as you are on yourself, reflect on why that is. Furthermore, try responding to yourself with the same kindness and support you would offer a friend. By adopting a more compassionate attitude towards yourself, you can build resilience and bounce back from setbacks more effectively.

tips from shanice marcelle

1. find time for quiet

Provincial championships are the culmination of all of the hard work leading up to those moments. It is really easy to get caught up in the business of the weekend and before you know it can be all over. Take some time between matches to find quiet and allow yourself some physical and mental rest even if for only 5 minutes!

2. get outside

Take each game one point at a time. If your down by 5 or up by 5 the game can change very easily. Pay attention to what needs to be done in each point rather than getting caught up in the big picture of winning or losing. The teams that can focus on the task at hand point by point are usually the wins that will end up most successful. And if your opponents by chance do something really incredible and intimidating (maybe a huge kill, or a big block) remember it’s only worth one point! Do your best to stay in each moment and the game will take care of itself.

3. stay present

Staying inside of a gym all day is hard on the body but difficult on the mind too. If the weather is nice grab your team and head outside to soak in some Vitamin D! I have always found the elements of nature to be calming – which for me calm helps bring me into the perfect state of mind.

4. trust your "stuff"

The best thing I ever did for my career was to take the pressure off myself by trusting my abilities and allowing myself to show up in whatever version of myself I could manage. There are days when some skills are great and maybe some skills feel totally off. Or maybe there are days when my opponents are playing better than me. All of those things and possibilities are ok! But, if you can trust yourself and the work that you have put in all season, and trust that your skills have gotten you this far the game becomes a little bit easier..