Find yourself in a comfortable position with your feet firmly on the ground.
Begin to close your eyes,
Let your shoulders drop,
Soften your jaw,
And relax your forehead.
Bring your awareness to your feet,
Imagine them firmly connected to the ground,
Steady,
Strong,
Rooted.
Feel that steadiness travel up your legs,
Into your hips,
Your core,
Your chest.
Your body knows how to perform,
Your body remembers what to do.
Bring your attention to your breath,
You don't need to change it,
Just follow it.
If thoughts arise,
Pressure,
Just acknowledge them gently and let them pass.
Say silently to yourself,
I'm returning to this moment,
To this moment.
Each breath you take brings you deeper into your present self,
Again connecting your mind,
Your body,
And your soul.
Imagine a soft light at the center of your chest,
Steady,
Calming.
With each inhale that light becomes brighter and brighter and brighter.
With each exhale all your distractions fade,
Slowly fade away.
This light now sharpens your awareness,
No tension,
No force,
Just clear and alert.
You are calm,
You are stable,
And you are ready.
Now imagine yourself playing your beautiful sport.
Notice how focused you feel,
Your movements are smooth,
You're quick,
Your mind is quiet and sharp.
You're not overthinking,
You're only responding.
You're trusting your training,
You're trusting your experience,
And you're trusting your instincts.
All that you've received from your mind,
Your body,
And your soul.
Say to yourself,
I am present,
I am focused,
And I am confident.
Imagine everything slowing down,
Just enough for you to see clearly.
Crisp,
Clear.
Now you're in flow,
And you're enjoying the game.
Your pressures become energy,
Your nerves become clarity,
Your breath anchors you,
And your body leads you,
And your soul reminds you.
Taking one final deep breath in,
And releasing out slowly.
And when you're ready,
Open.
Carry this calm focus with you into every warm-up,
To every practice,
To every game.
