How most players maintain their mental focus inside the court

In as much as it’s important for athletes to get psyched up for a game, they should be able to cool their jets and calm their heads when they play. UAAP baller Diego Dario is one guy who keeps his head cool before, during, and after a big game; he shares tips on how he makes this happen.

Start your day early with a balanced meal after getting enough rest the night before.

Nerves can make it tough to grab some shut-eye, but don’t make it (any) worse by dwelling on your phone before calling it a night. Lie down early and give yourself time to fall asleep naturally—you’ll want to wake up early the next day. While you’re at it, plan your energy-packed breakfast in advance; it’s all too easy to forget to stock up with everything else going on.

Be at the venue a few hours before the game and give yourself time to prepare.

Traffic respects no schedule, so it’s best to leave early and arrive early rather than attempt to clutch your arrival by departing just on time. Every athlete has their own pre-game routine–whether it’s taking a shower or putting on your gear only after carefully checking every piece. Being able to follow that routine at your desired pace is an important step in (grounding) conditioning your mind before a big game—iit gives a sense of being well-prepared.

Do your warm-up–both physically and mentally.

Aside from giving your bodily functions a jump start, your warm-up will help you find your groove for the day. Focus on the mechanical technique and when your body limbers up, imagine when you’ll be doing those same moves in game. Doing so provides a positive mental image that you can carry with you during the actual match.

If something goes wrong, rebound quickly from mistakes.

No game goes exactly according to plan, and the best way to deal with errors is to immediately focus on the next play. You can’t do anything about something that already happened–but you can make up for it moving forward. Focus on what you have to do next and you’ll be able to keep your head in the zone.

You learn from acknowledging what you could have done better, but at the end of the day, you need to feel that you enjoyed the game. Let the thrill of a good contest wash over you post-game and kick back with your team afterwards–cooling your head after a big game need not be hard!

Watch the video below and learn from Diego himself how he keeps his head cool before, during, and after a big game.

Keep yourself focused, ready and #ClearforAnything on and off the court.

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