There’s nothing quite like the adrenaline before hitting the field for a big game. From that nervous feeling you get when you’re warming up, to the rush of running out of the sheds into a cheering crowd. There’s a reason why players and spectators alike love the game, and as competition and comradery have been ingrained in our DNA over time – we can all understand why.
For many athletes, improving their game is of top priority. But, like everything in life, success comes with perseverance and commitment. That’s why it’s important to keep on top of your training. Here are four tips to better your game.
How to be a better player
Play intelligently
For many players, keeping their head in the game can pose a challenge. It’s incredibly easy to get distracted, lose your positioning and confuse your strategy on the field. That’s why understanding each move is essential in playing a successful game. Because of the pace and fluidity of sport, it’s always beneficial to be thinking one move ahead. This means understanding your position on the field, analysing your teammates’ placement and examining your opponent’s next move.
Learn from the best
This tip will come very easily for those hardcore fans out there. For many, the love of sport started from watching their favourite players on TV with the family or, for some, staying awake until all hours of the morning to stream your favourite overseas team play live. From watching sport, players develop an aspiration and drive for the game. That’s why watching professional teams play will help you on the field in the long run. Consider analysing the team’s placement and their unique moves to replicate in your own games.
Don’t put off training
We all know the age-old saying, “practice makes perfect”. As cliche as it sounds, it’s true. Practising your skills will always better your game as an outcome, no matter what. A study suggests that what practising really does is helping the brain optimise for sets of coordinated activities (like sports), through a process called myelination. Myelination is connected to the nerve impulses in our brains because it triggers a pattern of electrical signals through neurons. Over time, the neurons triggered by myelination mean increased speed and strength of the signal. This, in turn, means better performance overall.
Commit to the game
It’s easy to hide a lack of confidence in many things. Sport is not one of those things. Committing to each move is important to successfully completing a play, and also playing safe. Especially in contact sports, if you’re making a tackle or kick, you can’t second-guess yourself. By slowing down during an action, or not fully committing, it may result in a missed goal or a misstep resulting in an injury. Make sure you’re mentally preparing for each move and you’re playing with confidence.
Consider other health factors
By applying these tips to your game strategy, there’s a better chance of getting ahead on the field. However, if you’re still feeling lethargic or sick – no training tip will help you.
Did you know that you can improve your game from the inside of your mouth? Here’s how.
Is your mouthguard the key to your success?
According to the American Dental Association, one-third of all dental injuries are sports-related, and the use of a mouthguard can prevent more than 200,000 oral injuries to the mouth per year.
If you’ve been playing sport and contact sport for a long time, you’d know that a mouthguard is essential to protect your teeth, lips and tongue during impact hits throughout a game. However, what you may not know is that an unclean mouthguard can lead to a range of oral diseases that can seriously affect your performance – and worse, your health.
The research found in an oral health study suggests that bacteria, yeast, fungi, and viruses live on dental devices like mouthguards when not properly cleaned or stored. For those wearing these unclean mouthguards, these bacteria and disease-causing organisms can transmit into the bloodstream, causing a lot more than just a week on the sidelines.
Keep it clean with HyGenie Sport
You don’t have to be bed-ridden and out of the game, all because of your mouthguard. At HyGenie Sport, our philosophy is that peak health leads to peak performance. That’s why we believe keeping your mouthguard clean and protected will help keep you performing at 100 per cent.
HyGenie Sport has been designed with the athlete in mind and is a scientifically proven all-in-one solution to a very common problem. Shop the Dr Mark’s sports range and keep your mouthguard clean from bacteria so you can bring your A-game to every match!
