It is well-established that there is some degree of an advantage playing on your home field. So how do you equalize things when you are on the road and the advantage belongs to your opponents?
1 | MAINTAIN YOUR DISCIPLINE
Don't use being on the road as an excuse to deviate from your training regimen. Don't overeat or eat too heavily while traveling especially before the game. If you normally rest before a game, try to do so even if it noisy or less than comfortable on the trip. Don't use being out of town as an excuse for "painting the town".
2 | GET COMFORTABLE IN THE GYM AND WITH THE COURT
Arrive early if possible and wander the gym. Walk the court and observe the form. In football, players (especially lineman) often walk the field in something they call "grazing". Get a sense of the serving area, spacing, etc. Observe the stands and any possible distractions. As in suggestion #5 imagine yourself executing skills and playing well in the setting.
3 | SIMULATE POTENTIAL PRESSURE SITUATIONS IN PRACTICE
As a team, work on potential distractions or difficult situations that may be encountered during the preceding week of practice.
4 | MAXIMIZE YOUR FOCUS AND REFRAME NEGATIVE THOUGHTS
If you've worked on strengthening your concentration skills, this is a great time to test and apply them. Stay with your focus.
Reframe any negative thinking to a more neutral or positive mode. See their home court as a challenge and opportunity to test your mental toughness. Expect to be able to transform the energy of their crowd to your advantage.
5 | USE IMAGERY FOR MASTERY OF PROBLEM SITUATIONS
Use performance imagery to confront any potential problem situations. Be sure to imagine yourself successfully dealing with those situations. Don't psych yourself out with the "What if?" questions or images such as: "What if I choke?" "What if the fans get on me?", etc. Make sure you have an answer or action plan to use in any situation that concerns you and rehearse your responses in your imagery.
