Prepped and Ready
Athletes everywhere are able to perform at their peak level only if they prepare in the ways that are best for them.
Junior Julius Catalan enjoys listening to music before every game to get focused on his opponents. In addition, he finds eating healthy and avoiding greasy foods as being key to maintaining quality on field performances. For members of his team and other fall sports, certain rituals, playlists and foods all contribute to the athletes’ focus in action.
October 28, 2016
Athletes everywhere are looking for an edge. After all, the methods used to prepare for an event may be the key to starting strong and performing in the clutch. Ways to prepare vary from person to person, but typically include strong diet, mental readiness and the use of music effectively.
Many of the world’s best athletes are able to picture their best highlights before they happen or find their groove before the game starts. One primary idea to take into account is a strong diet. Depending on the performer, it has been shown that foods with low added sugar content are typically better. This basic guideline helps with finding energy that will not cause a ‘crash’ later on from added sugar. However, fruits do have a rather high amount of sugar, but are a better alternative to processed ‘energy.’ Junior Julius Catalan supports eating light foods in order to stay nimble.
“I typically veer toward more carbohydrate dense foods because I know they will give me energy as well as fruits,” Catalan said. “Anything greasy makes me feel bloated and nauseous come game time, so I typically stay away from those foods.”
Aside from nutrition, mental preparation is a major key to success within an event. Not all methods work for everyone, yet it is common to desire either an excited state of mind or a calm equilibrium. It is also common to listen to music that fits the desired mood before performing. Typically, those looking for excitement will listen to louder and more upbeat music. Yet those in search of a free mind may better fit with slower tempos and a more relaxing volume. Knowing which mental state to choose is very important and can help greatly with being ready to compete.
“I prefer to listen to loud and exciting music before a game because when I’m playing, the environment I’m in reflects that kind of music,” Catalan said.
These techniques can be used by all and are all part of performance while competing. An athlete’s preparation for competition often determines how well the event will go and finding success is all about trying new things and finding the right preparations.
