With the New Jersey State Tournament in full swing, there is an air of excitement across the Garden State, especially on my Montclair High School team. We are on a four-game winning streak, and it feels like things are clicking for us at the perfect time. However, it is still difficult not to let the pressure get to our heads. For me and the other seniors, each game is potentially our last ever wearing our town colors. For the rest of the team and coaches, the pressure is mounting to repeat our 2024 sectional title. Sometimes, we all need a reminder to live in the moment and appreciate each opportunity we have as a team without getting distracted by “what-ifs.”
One strategy that my teammates and I use to stay present is taking a second before practice or games to reflect on one thing we are grateful for in that moment. It could be something as simple as “the great weather” or “getting to wear pink socks,” but it makes all the difference when it comes to our ability to focus on the present. When we think about the things we are grateful for, it calms us down and allows us to appreciate our current environment. Gratitude helps us block out the pressure, stress, and anticipation that often accompany tournament time and allows us to be our best on and off the field.
Another way that we stay out of our heads during the postseason is by staying process-oriented and not thinking about potential outcomes. Before games, we never discuss what a win would mean for our bracket or how exciting a state title could be. Instead, we discuss personal goals for each game. This has made a big difference in our performance, especially in the opening minutes. Earlier in the season, we were very outcome-focused, especially before games. Discussions included, “What are they ranked?” and “How many power points would we get for a win?” These topics sparked anxiety in our team and led us to start most of our games tense and nervous. However, after instituting our new strategy for the state tournament, we have scored at least three goals in the first quarter of both our first- and second-round matchups. By shifting our focus away from results and onto personal objectives, we’ve been able to flow better as a team and be more successful from the first whistle.
The last difference-maker in our postseason run has been celebrating the little wins. Of course, our goal by the end of the tournament is to hoist the state championship plaque above our heads, but it takes a road of small triumphs to get us there. With this in mind, we make sure to cheer on the small victories of our teammates. For example, one of the players from our freshman team joined the varsity squad to help us prepare for states. On Friday, she joined the defensive corner unit for the first time and made an amazing defensive save. We were all so excited for her and made sure to cheer her on and congratulate her after practice. Celebrating these small successes helps keep practices lighthearted and reminds us why we want to continue our state run at all: so that we can keep competing alongside teammates we love, cheering each other on the whole way.
