AFL, or Aussie rules, is one of the toughest contests in world sport. For 80 minutes 36 players battle it out to control the footy and put it through the big sticks. It’s a frenetic contest full of bumps, shoves, speckies, tackles and more, making it a game that is simply not for the faint of heart.
With this in mind, it’s absolutely pivotal that players are at their physical peak on gameday. After all, the last thing you want is to come onto the oval feeling rough or slugging – the opposition will treat you like a ragdoll!
So, it’s important to follow these three imperatives when prepping for the game:
- Fuel up & hydrate
Grab your Cats, North or St Kilda AFL merchandise and head down to your local club – it’s gameday. It’s absolutely imperative that before your match you field up and keep well hydrated. This is because footy is a gruelling competition that takes a lot of sweat and energy out of its players.
Being fueled-up and hydrated is vital to keep you on top of your game whilst avoiding injury, so be sure to have a healthy snack like fruit or a granola bar an hour before the game whilst sticking to your fluid intake. The general is to drink around 100 – 120 mls per 20 minutes of gametime whilst rehydrating when on the bench and in between quarters.
- Think about success
The importance of a team’s cohesive confidence on matchday can never be underestimated. Players who come into gameday visualising success are guaranteed to play with more energy and vigour than those who enter the game down on their confidence. All teams have good and bad days but unfortunately the bad ones can stick with players and create negative visualisations for the matches to come.
Try to put any past performances or difficult training weeks behind you. Sure, they may have knocked your confidence at the time, but it’s important to remember that it’s the past and you and the team now have the opportunity to rectify any past performances.
Therefore, it’s imperative for you to come into any match situation visualising success. The same goes for your teammates, too, as a team that is full of players who want and can visualise success become far hungrier for it!
- Keep calm leading up to the match
We all know that footy is a frantic contest and that sometimes this can convolute our thinking. What’s more, the buildup to any match situation can create nerves and tension amongst players looking to achieve awesome on-field results. But you should work to avoid letting any nerves or anxiety about yours or your team’s performance overwhelm you in the leadup to the game.
Practising pregame mindfulness is a great way to keep your head clear and therefore be more analytic on the pitch. What’s more, being stuck with a frantic mind mid-match is a great distraction that can seriously inhibit your game. Therefore, it’s important to take slow, meditative breaths before the game, focusing on each breath as you go.
You might also have a particular pre-game strategy to help keep you in the zone for when the first bounce happens. This might include listening to music, talking yourself up or visualising the success you are about to achieve on the field. Either way, it’s imperative to stay calm, focused and get yourself dialled-in for a big game ahead!
