Sixty-Second Mental Video Clips of Upcoming Big Games or Competitions

The second and third parts are also sixty-second mental video clips, but instead of re-creating the past, you imagine what you want to have happen in your future. The video clip for part two depicts chosen highlights of the next upcoming elevated-pressure game or event (similar to the previous exercise, in which you emphasized playing really well in a high-pressure situation), and part three spotlights the next scheduled game or practice for which you are preparing. For part two, think of an upcoming important game, tryout, practice, or other event in which you will be participating. Imagine what you will need to do well to be successful. This is not necessarily the next time you compete, but the next high-stakes event. For example, if you are coming up on the postseason, the subject of this video clip might be the first playoff game even though it is still a week away. As a sample template, here is a representation of how the second part of Spiezio’s personal highlight reel might look as he anticipates returning to baseball. Note that its usefulness spans Division Series, League Championship Series, and World Series games: Next Elevated-Pressure Game: Upcoming Postseason Game ▶ First at bat (thinking about seeing the ball and putting a short, compact swing on the ball) ▶ Second at bat (thinking about seeing the ball and putting a short, compact swing on the ball) ▶ Third at bat (thinking about seeing the ball and putting a short, compact swing on the ball) ▶ Fourth at bat (thinking about seeing the ball and putting a short, compact swing on the ball) ▶ Focused and intense, making two plays in the field (feeling relaxed and confident) Adhering to the visualization guidelines, including always moving at the desired speed and feeling the way you most want to feel prior to and during the event, take a moment to create part two of your own personal highlight reel. See yourself doing well before and during the event. See yourself staying focused on what it takes to be successful, focusing on your performance statement and feeling your ideal arousal state. Also remember to see yourself as a winner and feel what it would feel like to perform well under pressure. Reminding yourself exactly how you want to feel and perform as you complete your personal highlight reel yields a big payoff. Incorporate as much detail as you like. The rationale is to remind yourself of what you want to have happen in the future. The more energy you put into this, the more you improve your future prospects. Take a moment and fill in the specific details of part two of your personal highlight reel. Your Next Elevated-Pressure Game: ▶ ▶ ▶ ▶ ▶ The third and final sixty-second mental video clip features the next game or practice you are anticipating. As an example, here is how part three of Scott Spiezio’s personal highlight reel could be constructed: Next Regular-Season Game ▶ First at bat (thinking about seeing the ball and putting a short, compact swing on the ball) ▶ Second at bat (thinking about seeing the ball and putting a short, compact swing on the ball) ▶ Third at bat (thinking about seeing the ball and putting a short, compact swing on the ball) ▶ Fourth at bat (thinking about seeing the ball and putting a short, compact swing on the ball) ▶ Focused and intense, making two plays in the field (feeling relaxed and confident) Notice that Spiezio’s parts two and three are structured the same. However, the details included in the highlight reels would be different, because the game, opponent, atmosphere, and pitcher would likely change. For instance, his team might be playing against the Red Sox in Boston during the World Series in part two of the reel, which covers the prospective next big game on the schedule. The pitcher starting for the Sox could be a veteran flamethrower with a ninety-seven-mile-per-hour fastball like Josh Beckett. Part three of Scott’s reel may be a late-September home game against a division opponent, who is starting a rookie pitcher with mostly off-speed breaking balls. Time to generate part three of your personal highlight reel. Piece together a sixty-second video clip wherein you see yourself warming up well and then performing well in your next practice and/or game. See yourself holding your focus steady (performance statement) and feeling emotionally (ideal arousal state) and physically the way you want to feel during the performance. Definitely see yourself as a winner and feel what it would feel like to perform well under pressure. Your part three may resemble or be exactly the same as what you envision for part two. Nevertheless, it is important to go over part three in detail because here, you are picturing yourself in a different atmosphere.