The time that players spend before their match is the most crucial period of match preparation. What they think, feel, and do prior to play will dictate how well they perform in the match. Due to this importance, coaches can help ensure that each athlete is optimally prepared.

Players have three goals before their match. First, their equipment should be ideally prepared. Second, their bodies must be warmed up and at an optimal level of intensity. Third, they must be confident in their ability and focused on performing their best in the match.

There are several key factors that will either help or hinder players’ preparation prior to their match. The first question is: where at the tournament site can they best accomplish their preparation? This will depend largely on their concentration style. If they tend to think too much, they should stay amid all the activity of the tournament and get prepared. If they tend to be distracted by the activity, they should go off by themselves to prepare.

Next, players must decide what they need to do to be totally prepared. As just discussed, there are three major areas, but within each of them, every athlete has particular things they like to do. For example, each player may have specific exercises he or she likes to do to get physically ready. Coaches should assist their players to develop structured routines that enable them to fully prepare themselves in the three areas.

Players then need to determine who they must interact with and what they should avoid in their preparation. They should only interact with those individuals at the tournament site who can facilitate their preparation, for example, coaches. Conversely, players should identify who and what they should avoid that might interfere with their preparation such as chatty players, officials, parents, and unwanted tournament information.

In sum, coaches should assist their players in identifying what they need to do to be totally prepared to play their best. Players may then develop a pre-match management plan that enables them to control these factors, thereby increasing the likelihood that they will play their best match.