The Ultimate List of Ideas For Playing Cornhole When The Nerves Take Over Your Game Part 1
by Sandra Scott on Oct 12, 2022
Tell me if this doesn't sound familiar:
You practice cornhole almost every day and you are feeling great; throw is good, bag is flat and in the hole most of the time. Your muscle memory is on point and your mind is running away with thoughts on how you are going to smash it on ESPN.
Tournament time arrives and all of that confident swagger leaves you like the air from a squeaky balloon.
RIght?
Guess what? YOU. ARE. NOT. ALONE. It seems to be a common problem for many of us that are brave enough to step to the cornhole boards to compete.
SPORTS ANXIETY (definition) = a tendency to view competitive situations as threatening and to respond to these situations with apprehension and tension.]. It's a real thing...and it sucks, doesn't it?
When I interview ACL Pros I always ask them how they combat nerves when competing at such a high level and unfortunately their responses offer no instant fix. ACL Pro, Mike Ferreira says, "I think it not as a competition more so you gotta imagine yourself in the backyard having fun. I think that's where the game really starts. You gotta have fun with it . If you're not having fun, you're gonna get nervous." [See full clip @RollCutFlop]
Let's be honest. It's just not fun when your heart is racing and your bags are going everywhere BUT the hole. What's happening? Your brain is working against you and convinces your body that you are in trouble which is why you simply can't play at the level you are used to when practicing at home. So, the obvious questions we need to ask ourselves are:
- HOW DO I CONVINCE MY BRAIN I AM PLAYING FOR FUN?
- HOW DO I STOP THE NERVES FROM KILLING MY GAME?
>>>START HERE. It's gonna take a lot of practice and dedication.<<<
Do you know the best way to signal your brain that you are NOT in danger? Deep deliberate breathing. This sends the brain a message saying "Hey, I'm ok. I'm safe." No, it will NOT stop the nervous feeling but it can certainly help you center yourself and your attention to the task in front of you. I see a lot of players deep breathing right before a throw. It helps. If you don't already have a breathing or meditation practice before you compete, I highly suggest you start. The most successful athletes (and YES, you are an athlete) are already doing this, along with visualizing their game and their wins. It works and science backs this up so give it a shot.
You can blame your bags or the cornhole boards for being off your game but it's more likely that your body is off it's game because of the anxiety. Did you know that fear and excitement present the very same way to your body? When professional athletes are asked if they are nervous before competing, they always answer "I'm excited!". They have already trained their brains and bodies to respond to the nerves as excitement, not as fear or anxiety. That's exactly what you have to do; flip it! Say, "I AM EXCITED! I AM PUMPED! I AM PSYCHED! I AM FIRED UP! I AM STOKED! I AM READY TO PLAY! You are reframing your feelings as something positive and beneficial to your gameplay.
***NERVOUS ENERGY converted to EXCITED ENERGY***
Let's wrap this up!
From this point on, you should be practicing these 2 skill sets at every tournament:
- Consistent deep breathing to let your body know all is well.
- FLIP nervous energy to excited energy with your thoughts and words.
This is just the tip of the iceberg, so stay tuned for Part 2 as I add to this Ultimate List. I will dive into the various factors that trigger your nerves, starting with points, tablets and brackets and give you suggestions to help avoid the triggers.
WAIT! Before you go, I want to spotlight a program that you should strongly consider joining if you really want to further your cornhole game. My honey is taking this bootcamp and is learning so much. You can find it HERE. You might also want to follow its creator, Michelle Thompson for some great mindset tips.
[Christmas is coming so while you're here, why not SHOP a little! We are lowering our prices just in time for the holidays. Your support is always appreciated.]
SEE YA at the next tournament!
