It's all in the mind - isn't it?

Photo "Male Thinking" by David Castillo Dominici, courtesy of www.FreeDigitalPhoto.net

It's often been said that pool - among other sports - is as much a mind game as they it is a game of skill and strategy.  With only days to go to the EBA 2015 Nations Cup of Pool in Killarney, Ireland, now is as good a time as any to get going with the thinking.

The problem many players have when they think ahead to a competition, especially an international tournament is that it makes them nervous.  Now, nerves aren't good, not in most situations, unless you are about to be attacked by a bear, in which case it is a wonderful thing for the fight or flight nervous impulse to kick in.

Photo by Stuart Miles, courtesy of www.freedigitalphotos.net

Being nervous before a major competition is pretty natural and everyone I know suffers from nerves to some extent.  Some players are really good at coping with them, at controling them, at using the energy of feeling nervous to enhance their performance - that rush of blood to the muscles, oxygen to the brain as you breathe more quickly, the adrenalin to carry you through any tiredness - these all contribute to good performance.

But the problem is that if you get really nervous, or if you allow yourself to be overcome by pre-tournament nerves, these can badly affect your performance.  Your muscles tend not to respond as they should or they tense up - a frame loser more often than not. You start to lose concentration and find that the smallest of things distract you easily.  Then, if you start to play badly, your confidence starts to shake.  Game over. Bad news.

Photo "Worried Man" by graur razvan ionut courtesy of www.FreeDigitalPhotos.net

I have talked to many players recently, here in Gibraltar and in UK, where I have recently spent a number of months and was fortunate to meet up with some old snooker playing friends, as well as other sportsmen - no single sport has exclusivity on pre-match nerves.  Here are a collection of tips that I believe are going to be really helpful:

1. Focus on the now - you can't do anything about the past, not even what happened two minutes ago.  If you play a poor shot, it's over, it's done, move on to play the next one better.  Don't let your mind drift over the past and don't speculate about the future, just about what is happening right here, right now.  This is true about the period between matches as well as during play, then you avoid fretting.
2. Find ways of recognising when you are losing that focus, pause in what you are doing, breathe slowly a few times and bring your thoughts back to the now. No-one will notice you doing that; they will think that you are plotting your next move, you will appear confident and calm, and you will feel confident and calm because you are taking control of yourself.
3. Focus on yourself, your game, your skills, your thinking, how you hold the queue, what angle to use, what spin to put on the cue ball, how much force to use - keep those things foremost in your mind and don't compare yourself to the other player.  It is how you play that will win or lose you the game, so don't waste energy comparing yourself to others.
4. Enjoy the competition.  Taking part in the event alone is a privilege, so take it all in: the venue, the atmosphere, the excitement, the camaraderie, the laughs.  When we talk about sport, we use the word "play" because that is what we do, we return to a basic human instinct to play, socialise and have fun.  As soon as you decide to enjoy yourself, you'll relax, and as soon as you do that, your game will improve.
5. Focus on each game, not on the outcomes, and avoid setting goals for yourself.  Take each frame at a time and focus on each one.  That's all.  Like that you will be able to stay in control of the frame, on how you play and keep those disastrous nerves from sapping your confidence as the match progresses.
6. Keep positive, not just about the competition, but about everything around you.  Avoid negative people and their bleak comments.  Smiles engender smiles, and smiling relaxes you.
7. Keep busy especially in the lead up to the competition.  This helps you not to let your mind over-think the challenge ahead.  That does not mean work 14 hours a day until you catch your flight and answer emails from the boss with five minutes to go.  I've been there, done that, what a waste of time!  But go for a brisk walk and breathe some good clean air, take a swim, call the family, take practise frames with other players, go sight-seeing if you have never been to the host town before.  Giving your mind a break is as important as resting yourself physically.  And get good sleep - a rested mind is a sharp mind, so avoid too much coffee and put that pint down!
8. Focus on the context of the event - what is the worst thing that can happen if you don't win?  I mean, really?  Chances are, you still have a loving family to go home to and friends about you.  You won't have lost life or limb, only a game.  And you will have loved playing it.  Really, if that's the worst that can happen and you've enjoyed the event, then there's nothing to be nervous about!

Above all, it's important to keep in mind that nerves are internal, that they are one of the few things about a tournament that you can do something about.  All the time you are aware you can control them, they sure won't be able to control you.  

Photo "Cup on Hand" by Ambro, courtesy of www.FreeDigitalPhotos.net

And a final tip - for those of you who sometimes find it difficult to concentrate on a shot when there is noise around.  In these last few days, get some practise in at a local bar.  The noise is usually dreadful and it's good practise for the technique of breathing in, shut it out, take the shot, breathe out.  It can also be pleasantly sociable!

I will be letting you know if these tecniques work for me at the Nations Cup - and I'd love to hear how you deal with your pre-match nerves. 

2015 EBA Nations Cup of Pool venue, The Gleneagle Hotel, Killarney, Ireland