1. GET THE RIGHT AMOUNT OF SLEEP.
Your body needs rest. You can’t perform at your highest level if you are always tired. Too little sleep can lead to fatigue and feeling disoriented. Too much sleep can leave you feeling sluggish. Listen to your body and what it needs or doesn’t need.
2. HYDRATE.
Make sure you’re drinking plenty of water. Countless studies show not drinking enough water has a negative impact on your performance. It will cause fatigue to set in quicker, impair your decision-making abilities and, as you probably already know, cause cramping. Keep a water bottle with you all day on game days and don’t let yourself drink anything but water.
3. “LOCK IN” AND VISUALIZE.
I know it is hard to stay game-focused all day, every game day. So, set a time to “lock in” and become game-ready mentally. When I was a player, I did this during half-time of the girls’ game that was played before my team’s game. Go somewhere you can clear your head and visualize the game. Visualize defense, offense, your shot, making a big play, etc. Mentally preparing in this way will leave you more focused and more confident for the game ahead.
