10 ways to be game day ready

Erin Johnson, Sports X-tra Editor|November 15, 2013

10 ways to be game day ready

1. Go to bed early

“Going to bed early is important because you cannot perform at your best without being fully rested,” senior Greg Jackson said. “The night before a game I make sure to get at least eight hours of sleep to make sure that I am fully rested.” Jackson has been a part of the boys basketball team since his freshman year.

2. Drink water

“Staying hydrated is important so you’re able to play your hardest and go as long as possible,” sophomore Janan Gokturk said.  “I always drink three bottles of water throughout the day of my game and it always helps.” Gokturk is one of the few underclassmen who is a part of the varisty field hockey team.

 3. Visualize your game in your head
“When you visualize  your game in your head you can visualize yourself making plays and doing well in your game,” junior Ayobami Fakulujo said. “It helps me focus and I’m prepared for anything that happens during the game.” Fakulujo  is a linebacker for the varisty football team.
4. Eat carbs 2-4 hours before the game
“I always  eat peanut butter and jelly sandwiches before a game becasue they’re healthy and have a lot of protein [and carbs] in them,” junior Joseph Koroma said. Koroma is a runningback and linebacker for the varisty football team.

 
5. Warm up and stretch out

“Warming up is important becasue you don’t want to catch a cramp during the game and you don’t want to pull a muscle,” junior Beza Yoseph said. “I always make sure to stretch out really well before my game so I am prepared to play.” Yoseph, a forward, is returning for her second year on varsity for the girls Basketball team.

 6. Get focused before your game

“Focus is so important because if you can’t focus then your head is not in the game and you’re not going to play to your full potential,” sophomore Brooke Thadeus said.  “I always listen to music before my game starts so I have my head in the right place and I’m focused on what I need to do in my game.” Thaddeus will be a returning athlete for the track & field team this winter.

7. Motivate yourself

“Motivating yourself is impornat because you feed off the pressure becasue that’s the best way not to get nervous and it pushes you to play well every game,” senior Lizzie Manthos said. “I always feed off the crowd and my teammates becasue it motivates me to play my best every single game.” Manthos is  captain of the field hockey team as well as one of the teams leading players.

8. Relax and have fun

“It is important to relax so you don’t make mistakes during your game becasue you’re not stressed out. And every athlete needs to have fun because if you’re not having fun, you’re not doing the sport for the right reasons,” junior Richie Niner said. Niner is a member of the boys baseball team.

9. Stay positive

“You need to stay positive becasue you want to motivate your team to do better. Not bring them down with negative comments on how they are playing or how you are playing,” senior Carly Klima said. Klima,  a shooting guard, will be returning for her third and final season for the girls basketball team.

10. Don’t over think it

“It is important not to over think your game, because it will cause you to play very poorly and that will also take a toll on your teammates. There isn’t any need to over think [your game] because a game is supposed to be easier than practice and is supposed to be fun,” junior Ahmed Elnour said. “You put in countless hours practicing the same things everyday, so you just need to go out there and execute it and have fun.” Elnour will be returning for his second season for the boys basketball team as a shooting guard.