5 Tips On How To Prepare For Your Next Smoky Mountain Sports Tournament
A good athlete knows that winning is not just about skill. It also depends on how well they prepared for the competition. That is why we want to make sure you are prepared for your next tournament at our Smoky Mountain sports complex by outlining a few of our favorite tournament prep tips.
Who knows, maybe this will give you the edge you need to be named champion of your next event!
How To Prepare For A Smoky Mountain Sports Tournament
1. Pack For Success
Whether it is triple checking that you packed the right jersey or suddenly remembering to pack your water bottle, it is important to take the time and really go over what you are putting in your travel bag. The last thing you want is to drive all the way to our tournament just to realize you only brought one cleat or you don’t have any socks. Sure, there are plenty of stores in the area where you can pick up extras of these items, but it will end up distracting you from what you really need to be focusing on–your tournament.
If you are a coach, we recommend emailing out a packing list to your players a week or two before you are supposed to leave. Inside the email you will want to explain which jerseys to wear, any other equipment players should bring, what snacks will be provided, and anything else you think will help your team succeed.
Click here for our list of what we think you should bring for your next Smoky Mountain sports tournament.
2. Remember Teamwork
It doesn’t matter if your team is in the lead or not, a simple “good job” to your teammates can do wonders for the overall moral when competing. The trick is to not let yourself get discouraged if you are behind and to not let yourself get overconfident if you are leading. You want to remember to work together as a team. That is the only way you will have a chance to win and remain positive.
Even if you compete as an individual, it is still important to cheer on your teammates, just as they have cheered for you. Whether it is clapping in the stands as they run a lap around the track or if they just landed a tricky gymnastic move, they will appreciate knowing that they have your support. It will help you both enjoy the tournament more and build unity for your team.
3. Stay Organized
Between new plays, game times, team rosters, final tips, and anything else you can think of, it is easy to feel a bit unorganized both mentally and literally when you arrive for your travel tournament. However, it is important to try and keep your head clear of all of these distractions and stay focused on the game.
If you need help staying organized in terms of your equipment or gear, you can make a quick checklist of everything you will need during the day and keep it in a side pocket of your bag. This will give you a guide to make sure that you have everything you need and you don’t leave anything behind.
To help you stay organized mentally for your game, we suggest focusing on the key points that your coach has gone over with you. If you feel as if there are a lot of noise or distractions around you, you can always pack a pair of headphones and listen to music or audio from previous games to help you stay focused.
4. Don’t Skip Practice
Sure, you probably have a lot of preparation to do before your Smoky Mountain sports tournament. However, that does not mean that you should skip out on your team’s practice to get things together before you leave. Practicing and staying in the game mindset are key in terms of success when playing in a sports competition.
Not to mention, the final practices before your game are some of the most important because this is the last chance your coach will have to teach your team new plays, swap out positions, and go over any critiques he or she may have.
To make sure you have enough time to get everything you need in order before you leave and to make it to practice on time, try to get an early start on your prep work. Go ahead and pack anything you won’t be using in practice in your bag or suitcase so you will be able to rest when you get home afterward.
5. Have Fun!
You have trained as hard as you can train. You went to practice, you studied the playbook, you did everything you could to prepare yourself for your competition. And now it is time for you to enjoy it.
Aside from the tournament and seeing who wins, travel sports are meant to be fun and memorable. You have a unique opportunity to make new friends from all across the country and cheer on fellow athletes that you would not otherwise have met.
Who knows, maybe after the day is over, you and your new found friends can go experience one of the fun attractions located near our Smoky Mountain sports complex or you can grab a bite to eat at one of our local restaurants. Whichever you choose, we can guarantee you will enjoy it as long as you remember that this experience is supposed to be fun. It’s not all about winning and losing.
If you have any questions on how to prepare for your next tournament at Rocky Top Sports World, don’t hesitate to contact us today! Our competition experts will be more than happy to answer any and all questions you and your team may have.
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