The bus ride to your game isn’t dead time. It’s prep time. Here’s how to use it.
Visualize success.
Close your eyes and picture yourself performing well in the competition ahead. See it, feel it, believe it. Visualization is one of the most well-researched mental performance tools in sport psychology, and a bus seat is the perfect place to practice it.
Control your breathing.
Focus on slow, deep breaths. This calms your nervous system and keeps pre-competition anxiety from burning through your energy before you even arrive.
Listen to relaxing music.
Save the hype playlist for later. Early in the ride, relaxing music helps you conserve energy and stay mentally fresh.
Take a nap, but keep it short.
On a long ride, a 20-30 minute nap can do wonders. Any longer and you’ll step off that bus feeling like a groggy zombie. Set an alarm to maximize rest and wake up energized.
Hydrate.
Seriously. Don’t wait until you arrive.
Identify your recent wins.
Think about successes from your last few games and practices. Bonus points if you write them down, your brain needs that evidence when competition pressure kicks in.
20 Minutes out…Flip the switch.
Switch from relaxing music to your fastest, most energizing pump-up playlist. This is your signal to shift mentally into your optimal performance zone and arrive ready to compete.