Be Prepared

“To be ultimately prepared, you don’t plan for the best-case scenario; you plan for every scenario”

Ben Bergeron, Chasing Excellence (pg. 86).

Visualization is one of the best methods used to prepare for adversity.

When you practice visualization, you need to go through every situation that can go wrong

that way when you are faced with challenge and adversity you are already mentally prepared for it.

You will also now how to respond to the situation.

Darwin said, “It’s not the strongest or smartest that survives, it’s the most adaptable to change”.

Because you can visualize adverse situations happening that means you should practice how to respond to them.

Listed below are a few visualization practice strategies...

 Plan how you are going to react when things go wrong.

 Visualize everything that can go wrong.

 Think about how your teammates will react.

 Think about what will happen if your body starts to fail you.

These are only a few examples of things that you can visualize when facing adversity.

When you practice visualization, you will find that you will become more adaptable in games, but only if you practice those adversities. Michael Phelps was able to compete and win the 200M butterfly when his goggles were broken because he had been prepared for it,

when his coach stepped on his goggles and forced him to swim with faulty equipment.

So, the next time you find yourself lacing up your shoes, putting on your swim cap, or warming up for practice;

visualize everything that can go wrong as well as everything that can go well and put yourself in that situation,

so you are prepared any type of adversity.