By the time an athlete approaches his next game or match, he would have probably done some training, past match analysis, scouting reports on next opponent and familiarize with the next game plan. A good coach who wants to get peak performance in sports for his team would have ensured that all of the above is covered before the next match. Consequently, the players would have been prepared mentally for the match. How than can a player prepare for the next game in terms of conducting a Game Plan Check? What is a Game Plan? How does it look like?
A Game Plan for peak performance in sports is basically a structured understanding of how the game needs to be played by the players in order to achieve a positive result in the game. Coming up with a game plan requires inputs about our players' abilities and weaknesses, our team strengths, the opponents tendencies, strengths and weaknesses, and past game outcomes. The coach has to look at all this in totality, consult his coaching staff and key players, and formulate a game plan to tackle the next opponent. Below is a simple template of a game plan;
1) Main Objective - This refer to the main goal of the match. Usually expressed in terms of win or draw. Most teams would target a win at least as a positive mindset to have. However, when realistic opponents are really streets ahead in terms of talent and abilities, playing for a draw or even losing by the fewest points may not be a bad objective after all. Think of a high school team playing the Brazilian U16 National team for instance. Would it be a good result if the high school team only loses by 2 goals? Most definitely.
2) Main Style of Play to be employed - Does the coach advocate a direct approach to attack or attack through the wings? Does he want the team to focus on a compact defensive posture because the opponent is superior? Does he prefer a counter-attacking type of play for the game? Does he want the players to concentrate on error-free play to maximize the chances of a positive result? The style of play for different games varies and the coach must pick the right style, and the players must believe in it to maximize peak performance in sports.
3) Key Areas Focus - Once the main style of play is selected, the coach can than lay down some key areas for the team to focus on. For any game, have no more than 3 focus areas. Anything more, the athletes will have difficulty remembering and focusing. Typical focus areas the coach can give the team include holding onto the ball and keeping possession. Keep your pitches low and away. Spread plays to the wings as much and as often as possible. In defensive zones, dump the puck to the corner. Closest player must challenge for the ball. Use running plays 3 out of 4 times. There are many more key areas that the coach can give to the team to focus on.
4) Individual Players' Focus - Any finally, every player or group of similar position players should have 3 or less areas of focus for the game as well. For example, for defenders, the coach might want to advocate a winning the first tackle cleanly and hard strategy because that set ups the tone of the match. For a particular pitcher whose weakness is location, the coach might want him to focus more on generating less precise pitches but more velocity towards the main plate area. What these types of individual focus areas give players is the ability to concentrate better in the game. There are a hundred and one things happening in the game. But by focusing on just a few key areas, the player will be able to settle down well into playing the game at his comfortable rhythm. After a while, the sport mind will take over naturally.
Having this form of game plan check is very helpful for players. Coaches ought to verbally present the game plan to players before the game, and perhaps even write them down on a single sheet for each player to take home. Here, coaching staff can help by preparing such a template game plan for all players. With this game plan, the players can then go back and read this on his own time to really understand how the game must be played for peak performance in sports.
About the author;
Jimmy Tong has been a Physical Educator for 13 Years in Singapore, with degree in sports science and physical education from Loughborough University in UK. He has extensive coaching experience in soccer, floorball and rugby teams in Singapore Schools.He is currently a sports development officer in Singapore schools as well as an active contributor of sports training articles to improve sports performance in athletes. He hopes to enable people's success to come by inspiring them with true sports motivational and inspirational stories.
For more information on achieving Peak Performance in Sports, visit the following site at http://inspiringsportsmotivations.com
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