I’m trying to think of things to write and I just can’t finish a thought. Focus. I’ve been struggling with focus this week. I’ve been thinking a lot about mental focus and remembering all of the things I’ve said in the past to my teammates. While looking back at old emails I came across this one I sent to melee the week before nationals. Our first game of the season is three weeks away but I definitely need to refocus.
This is what I was thinking with 12 hours of practice with my team left until nationals.
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T-minus 12 Melee hours
Throwing. Catching. Running. Visualizing.
That’s all it is.
It’s never too late to work on these things.
No regrets, remember?
Throwing:
Throw everyday! Although it doesn’t seem like much time, it is actually possible to improve your throws in a week if you are willing to try. Last year I was throwing with my roommate everyday after regionals so she could get ready for showdown tryouts. By the end of the week I could finally throw an around backhand consistently, something I’d been unable to do for three years. All I could think was… why didn’t I do this before regionals? What if that was the one thing would have been the difference in the final game?
Catching:
This summer I played a game with a friend who had also lost in the game to-go. It was called “regionals”. Universe point, the disc goes up, and you catch it no matter what. We were just throwing for fun at the IMs, but that was the moment I realized I should catch anything that got close to my hand. And I got better. Catching is all in your head. The mentality changed and I learned to expect to catch things that used to seem impossible. Watch the disc into your hands and don’t let go : ) And know what? Her team won the backdoor game on universe to make it to nationals this year. It was on a horrible slu-like pass in the endzone. One impossible catch to win the game.
Running:
Yay workouts! Regionals was NOT a test of endurance. We played four games. Saturday we barely had to play D, they would turn it over
regardless. Sunday we played 22 points total. Nationals will be different. Nationals will be the most intense point you played all year, every single time. Run hard. It’s the one thing that isn’t dependent on experience, just hard work.
Visualizing:
It’s all mental. Take some time everyday to visualize. In case you never quite put two and two together, visualizing is basically daydreaming. It’s remembering the times when you feel that flick come off your fingers and know that its going to your target, straight as an arrow. The time when you are in the cup and see fear in their eyes as you cut off the big throw. The solid cut when you hear the ground crunch beneath your feet. Good connections with teammates on a tough dump throw. And its the handblocks, the skying of the giant, the layout callahan, the huck to win the game, the run through D’s. Visualizing is where you are the best player you can be, knowing your limits and reaching just beyond them.
Enjoy every moment. Play because you love it.
-k