Athletics & Wellness Juniors (Ages 8-11) 8 min

Pre-Game Routines & Mental Prep

Build a short personal pre-game routine.

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1

What's a Pre-Game Routine?

A pre-game routine is a small set of actions you do before every game or practice. Think of it like a special warm-up just for your brain! It helps tell your mind and body that it's almost time to play and have fun.
2

Feeling Calm and Ready

Sometimes we get nervous feelings, like butterflies in our tummy, before a game. A routine can help calm those feelings because it's familiar and predictable. It helps you focus on what you're doing right now, putting you in a 'ready state' to do your best.
3

Building Your Routine

Your routine can be simple and quick! It could be listening to a favorite song, doing a few light stretches, taking three deep breaths, or closing your eyes and imagining yourself making a great play. The best routine is one that makes YOU feel good.

2 more steps in this tutorial

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Sample Practice Questions

Challenging
How could you apply the idea of a 'pre-event routine' to something non-athletic, like preparing for a big test at school?
0.You can't, because routines are only for sports.
1.By doing the exact same physical warm-up you do for a sport.
2.By creating a short, calming routine: organizing your desk, taking a few deep breaths, and quickly looking over your notes.
3.By staying up all night to study instead of getting rest.
Challenging
A player has a very long, complex routine that often makes them late for the official team warm-up. What might this suggest about their routine?
0.Their routine is perfect and the team warm-up is not important.
1.The player is the most dedicated person on the team.
2.The routine might be too complicated or not well-planned, causing more stress than it relieves.
3.The player is trying to show the coach that they should be the team captain.
Easy
What is the main purpose of a pre-game routine?
0.To help you feel calm, focused, and ready to play.
1.To make you more tired than your opponents.
2.To learn new rules right before the game starts.
3.To chat with friends about things other than the game.

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