Competition Plans

Competition days are not the same as Training days!

A critical factor to sustained success is having a practiced plan for competition day performance. Competition performance validates the entire athletic program but is very different from training. So try these

Be prepared and plan ahead as things mostly happen for reasons. The first key to superior performance is done before you get to a competition. Confidence comes from preparation. One of the aspects that leads to trusting your performance possibilities is that you have put in the work leading up to the competition. Knowing that you have a complete training program that covers all the bases and that you did the work to be ready goes a long way toward being ready for the competitions when they come. Confidence has been called the #1 factor that coaches of elite athlete want to see in their athletes. Be prepared
Develop Routines. Develop a race day routine that gets you into the readiness state where you perform best. These routines can and should involve physical, mental, emotional, and technical & event warm-up. They should be routines as opposed to rituals. The routine should be unique to you and be based on things that work to get you into an optimal state of readiness for the competition performance. Do things that specifically get you ready for the task such as getting a good physical warm-up as well as getting into a competition ready mindsetPart of the race day plan is how you will interact with you supporting cast. Identify those things that others can do that will help you perform at your capabilities. Coaches are there to teach and to help you have the opportunity to do the best you are capable of. They can give great advice and assist you in many ways. Parents or significant others play a key role in your performance. Some things they can do will contribute to your preparation and readiness. On the other hand other actions can distract you and have an adverse impact on your performance. Learn the difference and let those around you know what is helpful or harmful.
Focus Live in the moment and avoid distractions. Life is full of demands that compete for your attention. If you can focus on the steps in the task at hand in the sequence those tasks present themselves you will be ready to give your best effort when the starter says “go”. This is true whether your event lasts 10 seconds as in an aerial jump or 45 minutes in a 15K run. Plan your social interaction opportunities; take time to enjoy the company of your friends in a way that leaves optimal time to also be focused on performance when you should be. For example, if your teammate’s trash-talk at the start distracts you get ready away from them
Inspection and Mental Rehearsal. What information can you take in from the environment? What do you need to know to perform? One of the great advantages of our sports is that we get to inspect the courses before we compete on them. In some cases the inspection such as Super G the inspection almost is the event, in others, such as aerials the jump is almost a closed skill environment. No matter, in an outdoor winter environment the conditions change and they change during the competition. Surface consistency, light, temperature, and potential velocities all impact tactics and should be inspected as well as the placement of gates.After you have the information you need, practice by mentally rehearsing your run, jump, or race. Plan your actions, what you will do. Break down the course by what it demands and how you will respond. See yourself successfully implementing your plan. Give yourself positive instructions and see yourself doing the task successfully. Say affirming helpful things to yourself. Use self-talk that promotes; that is, give yourself good, effective instructions and unconditional positive support. Plan those scripts in advance practice them.
Pleasure. Remember to enjoy yourself. Part of the great Pelé’s competition day warm-up was to review the pleasure he found in playing the game of soccer and remember the fun the game brought to his life. Savor the day; Ski and snowboard competitions are a really fun way to spend the day. Living in the mountains and competing in cool resorts in the outdoors is a great way to spend the winter.