How to prepare for a Big Competition or Big Game

I just came back from an event in Canada this last weekend and I wanted to share some thought with you from the event.  So many times throughout my career I have heard athletes say; "This is the weekend I have been training for.  Or, this weekend or today, I have to show how good I am."  Both are recipes for disaster!

 How do you get ready for a big event?

Well, let me give you a few tricks that me, my wife (Bonnie Blair - 5x Gold, 1x Bronze Medalist in speed skating), and the athletes' we train use and for preparation for a big event.

• Train everyday like it is the Olympics or "The Big Game" - Then, when you need to perform at your best all you have to do is treat it like any other training day. This is easier said then done. This takes an incredible amount of mental discipline to master, but if you do this you will be strongly rewarded. You will have a routine in place that you are comfortable with and you will know in your heart that you did everything you possible could to prepare for this event, and that will settle down your nerves.
• Focus on the elements that it takes to be good not on the results - Be good at these primary elements in your sport and the results will follow - ie hockey: playing within your system, skating, passing/stickhandling, puck protection, positioning, reaction, watching film, nutrition, strength and conditioning, etc.
• Always prepare like a professional everyday for practice or a game - This will help you get ready mentally as well as physically when you need to have an exceptional performance. Having a routine will settle down your nerves (what your warm up is, how early to get to the event, what do I like to eat that sits good in my stomach, etc.).
• Always turn a negative into a positive in practice - Then, on game day or race day, it will automatically happen and your best effort will follow.
• Get ready the night before the event - Have everything laid out and ready to go for the big game, so on the day of the event you are clear and focused on the task at hand.
• In games leading up to the event, try and visualize that it is "The Big Event" you are preparing for - This will give you a few practice reps, and like anything else the more you practice something the better your chances for success.
• Get all your homework done or things on the "to do" list that are hanging over your head. This way you don't have anything bothering you that might distract you or take away your focus.
• Find out what works for you and settles you down before or during an event. (ipod, talking with specific coach, family, spend time off by yourself, etc.)
• Embrace the stress of performance and enjoy what you love to do. It should be fun to see how well you can do against the best competition on that day (this can be done in practice as well - play little games with yourself and try and put some stress on yourself to perform and see how you deal with it and see what happens to your body?). Win or Lose you will learn something about yourself that will make you better and stronger for the next battle!

David Cruikshank