“Get Ready” Routines
Some of the biggest mental game challenges for sports kids are distractions.
When they’re practicing, playing or performing, kids get distracted when they worry about what others’ think of them.
They also get distracted when a dog runs onto the field. Some kids get distracted when their parents yell from the sidelines and embarrass them.
What happens when they’re distracted?
They stop focusing on what’s important to playing or performing well. They start making mistakes and start losing confidence.
Kids who create and use what we call:
“Get Ready” Routines are less likely to become distracted and more likely to stay on task. That means they likely will perform better, feel more confident and have more fun.
So you might ask, what is a “Get Ready” routine?
It’s a series of thoughts and/or movements that sports kids complete that help them focus before each shot, toss, throw or other important task. Once kids establish these routines, the routines help kids concentrate and avoid getting distracted.
The routines combine physical action, such as practice swings with thoughts or images. The thoughts or images might include imagining – or visualizing – a shot. Kids’ routines vary with the sport they are playing and their role.
Here’s an example…
Baseball players might:
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Prepare: Forget about the last play. Take a slow, deep breath and step on the mound. Feel ready to focus on the next pitch.
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Plan: Receive the sign from the catcher and commit to it or change the pitch.
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Imagine: See the pitch they want to throw.
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Rehearse: Physically rehearse the feeling of the pitch they want to throw.
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Focus: Focus on the process. Narrow their focus to a specific target.
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Set up: Take a deep breath and get set for the wind up.
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Trust: React freely. They won’t try too hard to guide the pitch. They’ll trust their own abilities. Focus on a cue or a word to help them throw freely: “Stay behind the ball.”
When young athletes focus on the tasks and thoughts above, they’re more likely to stay grounded in the moment, less likely to worry about the score, and less likely to get distracted.
That’s good news.
We have created two special focus-boosting e-book “packages” to help kids perform better using “Get Ready” routines and other important mental skills. Each package of e-books can be downloaded instantly from our website.
We have mental toughness e-books for kids 11 and older and ebooks written specifically for kids 10 and under. You can read more at our website:
Mental Toughness E-books at Youth Sports Psychology
Related Articles on Kids’ Mental Game:
- Help Sports Kids Develop Routines to Improve Their Performance
- How Nutrition Affects Kids Sports’ Performance
- How Playing Sports Can Help Kids Transition to Reopening
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