Feb 22, 11:46 pm
I sit. My cold sweaty hands pick up the controller. A camera with a mounted light moves close to me; too close. My heart is doing somersaults in my chest. “Focus, focus, focus,” I keep repeating in my head. I glance over and make quick, intimidating eye contact with the opposing team. Two stalwart guys, one easily over 6 foot, sit crouched over their controllers. My face is burning, my leg is twitching and I’m feeling self-conscious with the camera intently aimed at my face. The match begins.
Professional video game tournaments are stressful, but they can be super-exciting. The knowledge of playing a match that matters puts a certain amount of pressure on the player. “This game, if I win, will bring me money, bragging rights, opportunities.” This intensity can ruin a player’s game if they have not mentally prepared themselves. There are a few useful things you can do to properly equip your mind and body for a stressful game.
From a psychological point of view, it’s important to have your lucky belt on. If there’s an article of clothing, an action figure, a refrigerator magnet, or an old wad of hair that has brought you luck in the past, make sure you have it close to give you that extra boost of confidence before the game starts. Strongside, a pro MLG player, has a Bob Marley shirt and 1-Up wrist band (not to mention the lucky quarter in his shoe) he wears to bring him good luck during a match. Yesterday, I found five dollars in the washing machine, my dog lost a tooth and I beat a Sudoku puzzle on advanced. What I’m trying to say is, I was wearing my green socks and I’m pretty sure they’re lucky. I’ll make sure to wear them to the next tournament I play in.
Training yourself for a competition will involve not only practice in the game, but also desensitizing yourself to change in your environment. With no HDTV, surround sound, or big comfy couch it might become difficult to play as well as you usually do, especially with that large crowd watching and making noises behind you. Expose yourself to different play setups before you go to your tournament. Try playing on a smaller or larger TV and see if you do just as well. Go over to a friend’s house and play on their setup. It’s also helpful to have friends and/or family members watch you play so you get used to the pressure of people standing behind you while you’re in the game.
Pay attention to the flow of the tournament. During one competition, I mistakenly thought I heard my name called for placement in group one of the first round. The referee at that table was actually playing in the match so he didn’t notice I was in the wrong place. After I played in my match, I ran off to get a quick bite to eat. When I came back they said they called my name in group two of round one, but I wasn’t there to play so they disqualified me. Always make sure you’re where you’re supposed to be at the right time. Also, there is usually time set apart for the participants to warm-up. Make sure you’re there early enough to reserve a spot for warm-up time.
Here are some more tips to keep in mind before you play in a tournament:
- Get plenty of sleep the night before
- Eat a healthy breakfast consisting of fruits and protein
- My mom says eating celery calms your nerves (ants-on-a-log are AWESOME)
- Before the game begins make sure you and your teammates are warmed up
- Think positively and with confidence
- Go to the bathroom before the game starts
Lastly, be a good sport. There’s no team dugout, no masks to hide behind, so you shouldn’t get angry or try to start a fight. You’ll feel better and be thought of highly if you shake hands with the opposing team at the end of the match, whether you won or lost. If you find yourself at a tournament without your lucky slab of meat and the game is about to start, don’t panic. Just imagine it right where you left it and tell yourself that it’s bringing you luck from under your pillow.
