HOW TO REPROGRAM YOUR MENTAL GAME!

Balancing your life for more rewarding future competitions

By Alan Brizee © Sept. 2024  Author of The Path to Excellence and 

                From Excellence to Success

      This one-of-a-kind article is brought to you by the author. Unless you’re a professional athlete, you may have to balance both sports and your personal life. Amateurs must treat sports like a luxury because work usually must come first. Even with sports being an occasional option to compete with others, choices you make may affect both sports and the way you live life. Decisions to do certain things, may not be affect you today, but what about the future and how long you can compete in the future. This article is about having athletes think about how decisions you make now, can and will determine your overall well-being in the upcoming years.

      I’ve seen a few that had to miss competition because of their actions in life and then had to live with the result. There are many athletes not realizing all the consequences of their actions. It is their decisions that can affect their life and determine outcomes when active in sports. Life and sports are different, but when I think about some decisions, I made to improve my life, and kept performing at a higher level in bowling, I know I made good decisions and happy that I’m still competitive and mostly free of pain outside of sports. I needed to treat both sports and life the same, as participating in sports makes me feel alive. What life has in store for you, can affect your sport’s competition. So, both affect each other and can complement each. And your participation in sports could be a huge part of your life, without a life altering injury. A twisted ankle, any fall, a car accident and even minor injuries, can affect you participating in your sport and the way you live. Being careful isn’t the cure all. But knowing how to live so both worlds, life and sports, make you excited that you can still compete without pain and just minor injuries. There’s so much more than just sports for us amateurs. No matter your age, you still will have to live your life and should want to live as healthy as possible. What you do outside of sports, can play a huge part of how well you perform. 

      Some athletes won’t see what they have done to themselves until it’s too late. Some athletes won’t go the extra mile to improve because they think it won’t help them. What I’m here to tell you is that I wish there would have been this information around when I was growing up. With the internet, info can be found and maybe it can be eye opening for some. Just be careful where you get some of the info you’re looking for as some want to spread misinformation. The one good thing is that you’re reading this hoping to solve some of your own problems or to reduce problems that may affect you as a senior. The problem with living is that it may get in the way of participating in the sport you love. Having a family for instance, where they support you while you compete, is just one example.

      The problem with this list is that for some, it may be a life changer. One or two items on this list can increase your overall quality of life and help you live better during retirement. The good thing is changing now before you have to, should be easier and can be done in small steps to show you that these ideas work. It’s now up to you to climb aboard and gain the benefits from others who have been there and want everyone to have a better quality of life. Think about how each item on this list, impacts the pleasure you get when participating in your sport and how a slight change might see more positive results in the future. Read with an open mind so you can continue to compete and have quality of life without having major health issues. NOTE: I’ve never seen an article like this anywhere before, and now it’s the first article in my mental section, because of its importance to so many athletes. Having even one health issue can cause an athlete to reduce your competition schedule for the upcoming schedule. These items are actually tips you may have not put a lot of thought into and are no way cure-alls for all athletes. 

1. Appreciate what you have and what you’ve done. Your accomplishments in both

      sports and life tell others who you really are. What you had to do for these 

      accomplishments is about your character. Most good things happen over time. What

      you do with your time can determine your success. Any accomplishment is another

      experience as well as a learning situation to guide you in the future. Celebrate these

      positive occasions because they won’t happen every time. Remember that your

      hard work has paid off, as you showed others what a good mental game can do 

      during competition. When celebrating with your significant other or friends, it could 

      strengthen the bond you have. Your celebration isn’t a time to brag and gloat that

      you did it and they didn’t. Good luck and ill-fortunes from your opponent maybe the

      reason for celebration. Remember that next time, you may not be so lucky! Winning

      the 2014 Senior Masters, it seemed to be my time and very little went wrong. Winning 

      takes commitment and time and that it may not happen again. Living life to the fullest

      is great when things are going great, but life should teach you how to live, when it 

      seems that the world is against you. Be happy when positive events happen and learn

      from those negative situations to avoid repeating them!

2. Show some enthusiasm. This is about enjoying competing, living life and having fun.

      Since the pandemic, there seems to be less athletes enjoying sports as they put too

      much into the results. Competitors worried about results, can stress themselves out of

      winning the match. Being consumed with the results will only add pressure to the 

      situation. Be happy you’re able to show  others the pleasure of a competitive battle

      and doing a good job in life. Your enthusiasm will rub off on some of your teammates 

      and people you work with. Showing others how having fun is the ONLY WAY to live and 

      compete in sports, can finally show them why they should be trying to have more fun. 

      Focusing on what is important matters and should help you see more positive results. 

3. Slow down. Take time to live life as if there will be a tomorrow. Leaving early for 

      appointments and competition can give you an advantage. No running red lights to

      get there just in time. Less chance of accidents happening by constant changing

      lanes, to get there two minutes earlier. Slowing down in competition means taking the 

      time to think through situations to make the best decisions to record more positive 

      results. Rushing any decision makes for bad choices and could throw you off the bus

      when competing in the ZONE!

4. ZZZ’s are important! As you get older, quality sleep can be more sporadic. You may

      not be able to sleep even six straight hours every night. You might have to wake up

      after four hours to use the bathroom, and then you can’t get back to sleep. I’ll take

      naps on days I don’t sleep well, so I can function when bowling league and for the next 

      day. I had prostate surgery a few years ago and glad I did. My sleep greatly improved, 

      and I can on occasions, get a full eight hours of sleep. To live life or compete in any 

      sport when you feel sleep deprived, isn’t the way to a healthy life or have an optimistic

      outlook when you compete. Since everyone won’t have the same method for what 

      works to get great sleep, I’m not going to offer suggestions to you. Sleeping aids can

      help, but they can be addictive and may not help when you need some sleep. I’ll use 

      my iPad to help me to sleep, but most will tell you, it isn’t recommended. All I can say it

      has worked for me for many years! Search online for other suggestions will be a good

      starting point if you need to turn for help.

5. Get outside. Taking a half hour walk outside, just three days a week has some great

      benefits. It’s a stress reduction activity that carries over to competition. You don’t need

      to speed walk to gain benefits. Golf is another way, if you don’t worry about scoring.

      Swimming has benefits if you swim laps and take a few breaks between doing laps. 

      Walking museums can relax you and add a mile or two to your steps you take for the

      day. Just getting out of the house to go to the store can make it beneficial. 

6. Stay hydrated. As most of you know, your body needs water. Without sufficient water, 

      your muscles can cramp up and you must handle the pain that arrives with it. Make 

      sure you limit some drinks like cola and alcohol, so your body can function better. I just

      saw where tennis players at this year’s US Open, were having trouble with the heat and

      cramping up. Here in Arizona, a dry heat 😊, we know that water IS A MUST! We also 

      know to stay in the shade with the A.C. on those 100 plus degree days as well. Treat

      your body good and it can treat you with some great “proformances” when you have

      a good mental game.  

7. Go to the gym. This is a no-brainer. Staying in shape SHOULD BE YOUR FIRST PIORITY. As

      you grow old and injuries make it difficult to do the same things from past years, 

      keeping your weight at a healthy level could make you enjoy some sport up until

      you’re in your 90’s. Get on those machines to keep your muscles strong, or you’ll lose 

      them. Get on the treadmill and work those legs as they are one of the most important 

      muscles in your body when it comes to sports. After all, they are your foundation to

      produce great results. Also work your abs as they help with balance and flexibility. 

      Some gyms offer massages to help with circulation and are great stress reducers. 

      Some teach the benefits of meal planning, so you eat healthier and cut out most of

      the unhealthy foods. Letting your health go can have a disastrous effect on your health

      and the sports you play. My mom had to go to dialysis three times a week taking about 

      eight hours total, and I’m glad I lost 30 pounds before she started going there. While 

      she was going, I kept almost all that weight off to make sure I wasn’t going to go there

      unless an accident put me there. Work your muscles and going on walks increase your 

      mobility. You need to sweat some for exercises to be beneficial. The sooner you enjoy

      any training, the better you’ll feel and possibly see more positive results. This is one of 

      those little things with a huge benefit. 

8. Read labels? What do I mean? This is about what you eat and how much to retain a 

      healthy weight for you. Read the labels on the food you eat and eliminate foods 

      destroying your health. Sports depends on the energy your body has and without the

      proper nutrition, you maybe self-destructing. One gym I went to had me count calories 

      and keep track of my protein intake among other things. You may see more people 

      yawning nowadays, because they didn’t get enough sleep or eating to energize 

      themselves. The gym had dietitians, and they worked with me to reduce excess

      calories so I could stay mentally sharp. You may be surprised at the excess amount of

      sugar and salt you’re eating or drinking. If you need help with weight gain, go online or 

      see a dietitian. The sooner you work on having a weight that isn’t prediabetic, the 

      longer you may compete in your sport and feel ready to compete when you wake up

      in the mornings. Quality nutrition leads to quality sports results. This item is often 

      overlooked by athletes, and it will also help with your sleep. Get informed to have a 

      better quality of life.    

9. Work your brain. They say if you don’t use it, you’ll lose it. Doing Sudoku is something 

      fun while being challenging and will help your mental game. Other puzzles have the 

      same effect at keeping your brain active each day. Reading also can help. Since

      you’re reading this article, some of the items listed may get your game going in the 

      right direction. This is about doing something now to see the benefits later. You should 

      understand why certain things should be done no matter how busy your life is should 

      you still be busy. But using a little “free time” now, can help you have a better quality of 

      life during retirement.

10. Start having a hobby. This is close to working your brain as some hobbies also work 

       your brain to keep it sharp. But it’s about taking a little time to have fun doing 

       something that’s more relaxing and a feeling of accomplishment when you finish a 

       project. And not all hobbies are indoors. Doing something that doesn’t involve a score 

       board, can be the best thing for you. Plan to spend a few hours each week away from 

       life and sports, to recharge your batteries relaxing with your hobby.

11. Do something different. There are many ways to benefit from getting out of a normal

       schedule. Vacation is just one example. Whenever you decide to tackle anything new,

       there may be pros and cons. The positives should outweigh the negatives. It should be 

       stress reducing as well. Slowing down to smell the coffee in the morning is always a 

       good thing. A relaxing massage can sometimes make a huge difference when 

       competing. If you are having shooting pains in your legs or sciatica problems on a 

       regular basis, see a chiropractor and get the relief you need. There’s no need to 

       compete with any pain you’re having when you can get help. Trying something new 

       can inspire you to change your normal weekly schedule, which can create excitement 

       on days you do compete. This excitement is like being a kid again trying something 

       that’s fun and maybe challenging. Fun and challenging should happen in sports to 

       keep you mentally sharp, but to do so outside of sports is an added benefit. Anything

       to relax and also keep your brain active should happen several times per week.

12 . Practice with a purpose! It doesn’t matter what sport you participate in, physical 

       practice sessions on days you don’t compete should happen. It’s about keeping your 

       muscular fitness ready for future competition. But don’t forget to add mental practice 

       to your weekly routine for better performances. Several athletes have won 

       championships due to having a great mental game, because of preparing mentally 

       for their matches they’re scheduled for. The type of physical practice depends on 

       what you’re trying to accomplish. On days with no events happening, practice could 

       be for gaining stamina for marathon events, working on a particular weakness in your

       game and to be better able to repeat shots when changing a technique in your game. 

       Remember item #2 is to have fun, so practice isn’t boring or will seem like work. The 

       more you enjoy what you’re doing, the better chance of seeing positive results and 

       potentially more prize money. And now for stupid question of this article, how often do 

       you practice your mental game? If you said every week, that’s great and shows you 

       want to become a target. When you raise in the rankings, more athletes will take 

       notice of your improvement and want to challenge you. I personally know that the 

       mental game will help many athletes get farther along in tournaments and higher

       rankings, because it happened to me. Practice shows others you’re invested in your 

       sport and willing to risk getting better. Doing even a little session every week will 

       increase awareness of any shortcomings you have. Practice has helped me cash in 

       weekly tournaments because I was prepared to accept the challenge. 

13. Challenge yourself. The best way to improve and gauge what you need to improve on

       is embrace better competition. You heard it at least 100 times before; to be the best, 

       you must beat the best. You may not need to challenge the best, but going against 

       competitors who are definitely better, will give you answers to what the future may 

       hold. It doesn’t matter how many years you have been in sports, there will be a time 

       where you’ll be in a dog fight against better athletes. The more challenges you accept,

       will help you gain confidence when you win, show what areas that need work when

       you came up short for the victory and pick up valuable experiences for most future

       matches. Competing in your comfort zone is always easier, but some occasions won’t 

       be so easy. If you’re uncomfortable making certain adjustments, see number 12

       practice.   

14. Trust your gut. TRUST IS A MUST, or your game is a bust! Not another one you say? 

       Some sayings can tell you what you may have forgotten or what you should do. Trust 

       is a must when adjusting as well. Trust and favorable outcomes build confidence. Your

       confidence will build upon your strong mental game. Don’t second guess yourself, as 

       you should be confident when making any decision. Not all decisions you make, work

       like you thought they would. Live with your decisions and learn from them.

15. Work smarter, not harder. Everything that happens in sports could happen outside of 

        sports. To be smarter, help maybe just the answer you need. If you live your life for 

        sports as most athletes do, you must be smart about what you do in both life and 

        sports, and not make anything harder than it must be. Think about what you’re doing 

        and try to be safe when you’re doing it. There will be times when getting help is 

        required and there’s no shame in asking for help. Coaches can help your physical

        and mental game in sports, but friends and family could offer advice for work at

        home. Asking for help doesn’t show weakness as some may tell you. Getting help 

        shows your smart enough to ask for it and the experiences from getting help, may

        last a lifetime.

16. Keep at it. Sports means some work needed to become better. This means, that a little

        time from your weekly life so your physical and mental training can benefit you living 

        your life and be a better competitor. Practice is work and will be needed at higher 

        levels in any sport. Work is a four-letter word, but it doesn’t have to be a pain in your 

        neck. Explore how to put some fun back into your game and see what happens. If 

        you’re still able to compete, stick with it and keep learning from any experience so 

        you’ll be a more rounded athlete. Competition is about who’s better THAT DAY and

        the next time may give you a different result. Whatever happened in the past can’t be

        changed, but learning anything from the past, can get you further and possibly more 

        prize money in some tournaments. 

       After reading this super helpful handy dandy agenda to live your life by, what items on it, have you overlooked? I know it’s not really a long list with its 16 elements, as some of you are already doing several of them, but they are 16 important items if you live life for sports. But this list shows why sports and life isn’t always easy and will require constantly monitoring to help keep you active as well as competitive. Don’t dismiss anything here as I have done everything on this list. I’m a super senior who doesn’t take any meds, and thankful I can spend my money on more important things in my life. As good as this list looks, it may be missing something. It seemed I kept adding to it, so I can say, I covered it in some detail. Now that it’s on my HOW TO website, I’ll add anything that I feel is needed. Most of you are already doing many of the items I’ve covered here. Some of you may have forgot a few items or didn’t know some items I covered, but NOW YOU CAN START TO RECLAIM some good habits that will benefit you in the future. Only when you can seek the help you may need to be a better athlete, can you live a better and healthier life. Athletes that have been in their sport for a few decades, it’s not that hard and today maybe the best time to start thinking about what your future will look like. My suggestion is to take the easier fixers first, so that you can devote more time to the items that will take longer to work on. With whatever life throws at you and now you have more knowledge, you should be able to chart A BETTER PATH TO EXCELLENCE!

As always, See you in the ZONE!

29 MVA lessons for sports, life and health!

By Alan Brizee © 2020, Rev. ’24 Author of The Path to Excellence and 

               From Excellence to Success

      Sport’s & Life’s (Most Valuable Athlete) lessons you may need to remain competitive. Life can and will determine your outcomes in the sport you play. Most sports will take a chunk of time from your already loaded weekly schedule. Just finding time to practice on your own might impact your personal life. Having a family or a significant other can make decisions for your sport, more about your home life. Most decisions will impact sports more as without work (or money), there will be no sports. To help balance both, my list is to inform athletes to become more aware of their decisions to stay competitive. This article is geared more for sports, but many lessons for sports are also true for living your life. Making better decisions for your health and keeping active, can pay you dividends later in your life. This is a blueprint for all athletes, as they may not realize sports and life overlap and can disrupt both, if they’re not thinking how their decisions impact both. Warning: This article shows athletes why sports isn’t always easy and that knowing how sports can influence other things in your life and can get athletes making better decisions every day. Not every athlete will accept my list because of what they must do to live their life. Sometimes decisions need to be made, and it normally won’t be good when competing in sports. Life is a necessity, while sports is only entertainment. This article is about a balancing act but can happen when working to pay necessary sport fees and buying necessary equipment that your sport requires.

       This article was written for those in generally good health and not having major problems with your physical game. But seniors could learn several things reading it.

       This is individual based but could apply to certain team situations. Learning something new is never a waste of time. I will work on one for teams so you can help your team when they may need it the most. All examples are related to bowling or golf, since I compete in both and both sports which have individual and team play. All EXAMPLES are real situations in bowling and golf that I faced in over 50 years. This can give everyone more insight into what athletes encounter in any sport on a weekly basis.

1. Luck can impact outcomes of matches. You can’t expect it every time you need it. Even 

      good shots may not be the positive result you expected. Good luck is expected from 

      athletes starting their career and those lacking some skills. Champions, mostly take 

      luck out of the equation by continuing to throw GREAT shots with some fortunate

      enough to acquire some good luck. When good luck happens, accept it and don’t get 

      too emotional when it does. Getting emotional can wipe out your energy and good 

      fortunes before you realize it. Doing your best, may outweigh the good luck your 

      opponent is capitalizing on. Keeping the pressure on your competitors can quickly turn 

      into those MUST HAVE shots. You must show them that they’ll need more skill than luck

      with your GREAT mental game.

              EXAMPLE: In bowling, when you collapse the bucket for a strike, the first and best 

              thing to do is CAPITALIZE ON IT. Capitalizing on any good break should be expected

              from good bowlers, and just one example fo why you need to have a GREAT 

              mental game!

2. Don’t rush results. Takes things slower for better positive results. You can’t win a match

      with just one shot. Thinking too much into what’s ahead, instead of the shot you’re 

      about to throw, will just put more pressure on you and the possibility of a rushed shot. 

      All results happen over time and sometimes days, because of working to improve your

      game. You need to remain focused on what you must do, so opponents won’t walk all 

      over you. Decisions you make should have some thought in them, and maybe the best 

      decision you’ll make during a match. Stay in the present so results should be favorable 

      for you.

              EXAMPLE: In bowling, a double won’t happen with one shot. Focusing on one shot 

              will possibly help you throw a strike, so you’ll have a better chance of going after

              your double. When you get some shots that carry, you can start to work on your 

              string of GREAT shots!

3. Don’t ever let others tell you it can’t be done! Multiple perfect sets of 900’s, have now

      happened in bowling which many at that time had thought it wouldn’t be done. Now 

      you know otherwise. Those saying something can’t happen, probably haven’t tried it or

      tried and missed because they didn’t put enough effort into getting it done. The best 

      way to silence any critic is to prove them wrong! There will be times when everything 

      just falls into place. Of course, when you ride this wave, you may forget some 

      circumstances that helped start your stream of good fortune. Many good athletes will 

      get good breaks, because of their experience and the knowledge it takes to compete, 

      and use one or two breaks to build them an advantage over opponents, who may

      have questioned if it could be done. World records have been rewritten on an athlete’s

      final attempt in the sport they compete in. Always remain positive and see what you 

      can do, once you feel that anything can happen. Keep an open mind to go after goals,

      that may seem out of range IN OTHER ATHLETE’S MINDS. During any event, even those 

      disastrous results, whatever happened is because you trained for your sport and 

      accepted the challenge. If you tried, you can’t say that it won’t happen.

              EXAMPLE: Bowlers have showed that almost anything is possible including when 

              bowling on sport patterns. If you keep your mind on what you’re doing and then 

              see the results unfold in front of you, you might even surprise yourself. Many have 

              learned that most great results are from staying focused and repeating GREAT

              shots.

4. Check your emotions. If you get ticked off when anything you try to do, doesn’t happen

      as planned, your mental game will suffer. Getting emotional isn’t the way to favorable 

      results. Perfection in any sport is rare and if you as an athlete expect it, you’re going to 

      be disappointed when you miss again. Committing to excellence should get you 

      closer to perfection and end the roller coaster ride of your emotions when perfection 

      can no longer happen. This is about being smarter than what you’re working with. Your 

      results usually lead to getting emotional, and your emotions can throw you under 

      the bus or out of the stadium. Save your emotions until the match is over. Don’t let 

      your emotions destroy your GREAT mental game or keep you from a great mental 

      game! Except the results during the contest, so you can refocus and keep the match 

      from getting out of hand. When any negative result happens, it’s usually due to the 

      athlete not competing in the ZONE. This magical place will show others why we 

      compete and have a better way to eliminate hazards associated when competing in 

      sports. This special place will reduce what you must worry about, and will keep you 

      focused on your goals! You can’t let your emotions keep you from winning because of 

      one situation. Don’t let your emotions destroy your good mental game or keep you 

      from a GREAT mental game! Except the results during the contest, so you can refocus 

      and keep the match from getting out of hand. When any negative result happens, it’s 

      usually due to the athlete not competing in the ZONE. This magical place will show 

      others why we compete and have a better way to eliminate hazards associated when 

      competing in sports. This special place will reduce what you must worry about, and will

      keep you focused on your goals! You can’t let your emotions keep you from winning 

      because of one situation. 

              EXAMPLE: During my win in the Senior Masters, I had to beat a former champion 

              twice to claim the championship. After a 217 throwing four out of the last five shots

              being a strike, I had a 47-pin lead for the two-game set. I continued to stay hot

              throwing strikes and managed perfection shooting 300 and forced a second set

              for the championship. Since I had shot other 300’s, there was no reason to get too 

              emotional as I still had two games left to bowl for the championship. I continued 

              to bowl in the ZONE and bagged three, six, four and three to record an 803 for my

              last three games. 

5. Get energized! This item will serve you well into any retirement you might have 

      planned. When you’re working and competing, life may bring you happiness because

      both are going GREAT, you may not realize what else you should be worried about. And

      the sooner you understand why this item is important, the sooner you’ll keep your life 

      on track to be a healthier senior athlete. This is about getting to the gym and working 

      out. Staying active with weekly walks or jogging is never a mistake. Keeping your

      weight to a healthy level will energize you! Pushing yourself and sweating some will 

      energize you! Knowing that the gym will reward you with a sense of achievement and

      help you while you’re still competitive, should be an easy decision as why you go there.

      Some of you might even have home gym s. Keeping fit later in life isn’t as easy staying 

      fit while you must work to pay the bills. Being fit should help when injuries occur. Any 

      injury can block your fitness routine because your workouts being limited based on 

      what you injured. Being in shape can reduce the time off from your sport when a minor

      injury happens.

              EXAMPLE:I go to the gym three times each week. I start with the treadmill and work

              my abs every time I go. Then I work different muscle groups on those three days. I 

              listen to music to make it fun and can see my weight at a healthy limit. I enjoy the

              scenery as I get energized while I’m there, and just another reason why my 

              workouts are better at the gym. Being a little sore the next day shows I’m building 

              muscle and will benefit me during my retirement. The weekly nine hours at the

              gym  is well worth not having to take any meds, or checking my blood sugar level 

              on a regular basis since I’m in my 60’s.

6. Food for thought and your health.When I was younger, I didn’t really know or even 

       thought much about, how food could influence my match in the coming weekend. 

       How and what you eat will determine energy levels that must be maintained while 

       competing. The sooner you know what your weight should be for your age, the sooner

       you can start to work to keep excess weight off and be in better health. Your health 

       and the food you eat determine the number of quality days you have each week. 

       When on vacation or traveling to compete, your quality choices are limited and 

       sometimes time plays a factor in where you go and what you eat. The holidays can 

       destroy some of your healthy weight, as you usually eat until you’re full. Choices are all

       around us and must be made. My best decision is eating in moderation. Snacks can 

       add pounds, but can be OK if you don’t snack too much every day. Watch what and 

       how you eat, or you may pay for it later.

               EXAMPLE: A gym had a dietitian who had us count calories and now my weight is

               controlled by the smart choices I make to stay active while I enjoy competition. 

               She forced me to substitute certain foods that added sugar to healthy meals. One

               example was orange juice in the mornings with eggs and bacon. I substituted a 

               real orange to eliminate juice containing sugar and one slice of bacon instead of 

               two. Choices are happening all the time and making smart choices before they

               MUST BE MADE will affect your health later in life.  

7. Dress for success! Not every athlete will have to worry about this as some teams have

       uniforms and locker rooms for changing and showering. But how you dress for the trip

       to the game and the way home or back to the hotel says a lot about you. I may 

       practice once in a while in blue jeans, but I will always dress like professionals for 

       league. Slacks are more flexible than blue jeans and let others know you’re more 

       serious about the way you compete. The way you dress for any match can help the

       way you feel while competing and help you see more positive results. Some 

       tournaments have dress code rules and could make you change if what you wear is 

       against the rules that are posted for any competitor. This also goes for what you can

       wear as some manufacturer’s logos may not be allowed when you compete. Always 

       check the rules to know what’s required so that no surprises happen on the first day 

       you compete.

               EXAMPLE: I take bowlers who look more professional as more of a treat. Usually 

               those who care how they look, show their love for the game, take their bowling 

               more seriously, and usually practice keeping their game sharp. A sharp dressed 

               man will usually get more respect because he took the time to dress up, instead

               of throwing on some wrinkled cloths because he might have been running late 

               to get t bowling. Get what you are going to wear together either the night before

               or before you leave for work, so you’re not as rushed after work to show your pride 

               in competing. This maybe a little thing to some, but for me, I’m more comfortable 

               in slacks or golf shorts and I’m showing the world that I’m ready for whatever

               event is in front of me.

8. Reasons for Rules. Rules keep the playing field more level for everyone involved. Not 

       knowing a few rules could get you disqualified from an event and loss of your entry

       fee. Telling officials, you didn't know that rule won't ussually work. Events can and will 

       change rules from time to time. Some rule changes may be based on participants

       who might have bent a rule and not broken it. Most rules will be posted online a 

       month before the event. Check the rules for equipment as this can also cost you if 

       you must buy new equipment before you can compete and then not be able to use it. 

       You shouldn’t add any more cost to an already costly tournament. Take the time to 

       read the rules, as not knowing then can cost you your entry fee, the cost for the hotel, 

       the cost to travel to compete and the added cost of eating out during your stay.  It’s

       about the good, old and wiser who, know before they go! Don’t expect every rule to 

       be exactly the same every year, make sure it’s the same. 

                 EXAMPLE: When I was bowling USBC nationals, we had to change lanes for the

               singles event and now they stay on the same pair. This helps in breaking down the

               pair before singles to open the shot up and maybe produce higher scores. This 

               may mean that high rev players need to make a few more adjustments in the 

               tournament and may need different equipment for the final event and your

               all-events total pins for cashing.

9. Refs can change the game. There are not a lot of refs for singles as this article is

       geared for singles. Tennis is the first sport that I thought of that use refs and there

       maybe a few others. Your opponent and whoever runs tournaments will act as refs 

       when situations occur. The decisions the refs and tournament directors make are

       usually final and you’ll have to live with what they decided. Only pros and college have

       instant replays and amateurs can’t keep arguing with refs if they feel refs made a bad

       call. You may be disqualified for constant arguing. Refs are human and can make a 

       few bad calls. But if it effects your good mental game, it could make it a long day and 

       a long trip home after losing. Don’t let the refs decide who will win, you need to control 

       the match and do what’s necessary to secure the win. Any bad call can throw you out

       of the ZONE and decrease your chance of winning the match. 

                 EXAMPLE: In bowling, there are mechanical refs known as foul lights. If your foot 

               goes over the line, the scorer will give you zero for that throw and now you must 

               knock over ten pins for the spare. Foul lights have been known to malfunction and 

               at times been turned off if malfunction continues. You shouldn’t let any

               malfunction destroy your chance at winning because your GREAT mental game 

               should help you comeback after a negative incident. 

10.  Don’t judge, but respect others. This was added after I thought I was done discussing

       ways to improve the way you should compete and live life. People and bowlers too, 

       and quick to judge others with limited info. Unless you know them personally, you

       MUST respect them as a competitor. You don’t know the next time you face someone, 

       how much that have worked on their game. When you respect everyone, you will put 

       the same energy into every match and that will keep you more focused regardless of 

       who you face and where the competition takes place. Being consistent is really the 

       only way to compete. And now with social media bombarding us each day, don’t 

       disrespect others by what you post. It could add fuel to the fire which is something to 

       avoid. My thinking is old school, if you can’t say something nice, don't tell your 

       opponent and don’t say it on Facebook. 

                 EXAMPLE: I was practicing the night before the match play bowling tournament in

               the 1970’s and someone comes to me and told me that he thought my ball might 

               be illegal. I knew it wasn’t because of who drilled my balls. He always weighed

               balls he just drilled so that I wouldn’t have to worry when I bowled nationals. 

               This was before I knew how valuable the mental game was. It turned out, he was

               my first match. What he attempted the night before was to psyche me out, 

               because I think he knew we were bowling each other in the first round. It didn’t 

               work because now, I was even more focused to send him home because of his 

               disrespect of me. I went on to take third and learned that respect is earned. I’ve

               also learned not to pay attention to what competitors say and not even

               comment when directed at me. It’s about focusing only on what you can control.

11. Buckle up with a positive attitude! Your positive attitude should have started the day

       before by getting enough sleep. After waking up rested, retain your positive attitude

       for the entire day, so you’ll be a little excited about your match later in the day. Listen

       to music that inspires you on the way to competition. My go to music is The Moody 

       Blues as they have many great songs. Being positive should help you relax before you

       proform. A positive athlete will BELIEVE good results could happen and sure enough, 

       some, including me, made GREAT results happen! 

                  EXAMPLE: I showed up excited to qualify in the Senior Masters at the center where

                I was bowling league. Averaging 221 at the time, I had the equipment to keep up 

                with any challenger. I just averaged 230, my highest book average ever, for 52 

                games during the summer a few months ago. I was not only ready, but I was also

                POSITIVE I would get off to a good start. I qualified 2nd averaging 241 with a 280 

                second game. I was able to get another good night sleep before finals on Sunday.

                I averaged 245 for 14 games to win the title. Good things can happen if you keep 

                at it and stay positive. I did finish the tournament with 217, 300, 257 and 246. 803

                for the final three games. My positive attitude kept me focused to repeat GREAT

                shots all weekend and I even shoot a perfect game! It was an almost a perfect 

                tournament!

12. Always self-manage your thinking! Trust your experience when making decisions

        and adjustments. You’re not going to make the best decisions or adjustments every 

        time you compete. Don’t think, what if? Because it will open the door for doubt. Any 

        thinking needs to be positive with your goal in mind. It’s about keeping your eyes on

        the prize. Should some frustration set in, you must refocus on what matters, so you 

        can make good decisions for any match that you still have a chance to win. There

        will be times when matches must happen over time (another day or even later that 

        day) due to some unforeseen incident. This may be the best time to review where

        you were at in the match, that will finish much later than planned. What adjustments 

        could you make for better results? Were you positive up till the match was delayed? 

        Think about getting something to eat to keep your energy for when the competition

        restarts. How you think and what you do before matches, could set you up for the win.

        Don’t let opponents get you thinking about something that can’t help you to win the 

        match. Any time you see any transition happening and it’s not what you expected, 

        recall what happened in the past to get you through it without getting frustrated.

        This way you're more likely to make a correct decision for your adjustment. Your 

        Commit to Excellence and your decisions help eliminate outside influences and you 

        can stop second guessing yourself, as you know yourself and best to see more 

        favorable conclusions. After reading my first book, The Path to Excellence, YOU

        KNOW what must happen to keep the pressure on your competitors. Any competition

        is going to different the next time you get out there. Different athletes, different 

        conditions for your sport, different people watching you, possible rule changes and 

        tournament formats. You MUST think thoroughly about the situations and decide how 

        you’ll handle them. You must let go of outside influences when competing. 

                   EXAMPLE: Keep it simple is a great way to keep everything in perspective and 

                 completely fully focused. Thinking what if, will hinder mental decisions you must 

                 make. Too much thinking brings you second guessing yourself and maybe a

                 mess by making a mental mistake. 

13. Keep going, no matter the situation. Don’t let one bad shot derail a good night. Life 

        happens and you’ll learn from a few mistakes. There will be other shots that will 

        determine who was better during the match. Keep your focus and don’t let up! The

        old saying is still true today, “If you slow down, your competition is catching up to

        you”. Persistence is a great thing when going after goals you set. Keep working on 

        getting a better mental game, as losing isn’t fun. This is also about dedication to your 

        game and wanting to be more successful. Some people compete to get out of the 

        house once or twice a week. But unless you’re injured, there’s no time to slow down 

        or stop! 

                  EXAMPLE: I have won several big tournaments and cashed for several thousands

                of dollars in total because I love to compete. There were only a few times where I

                was about ready to throw in the towel. But as you may have read before, my mom

                didn't have me quit and I'm not quiting now! As long as I’m able to do it pain free,

                I’ll continue to have fun and remain positive when competing.

14. Be proud of being competitive. Being able to compete shouldn’t be taken lightly. Not 

         everyone can compete at a high level and experiencing the thrill of victory is second

         to none. Not winning isn’t the end of the world, but it can be a valuable lesson for an 

         upcoming match. All athletes should embrace being competitive, as any event

         could lead to better performances as you’ll be more relaxed from your experiences. 

         Since most competitions gauge who was better during the event, it will also gauge 

         how well you were able to adjust to situations and how well you solved any MUST 

         HAVE situations. Any event is a test of your skills, both physical and mental, and you 

         should recap how the event played out within a couple of days so it’s fresh in your 

         mind. This will help you make better decisions when the same situations come 

         up again. 

                   EXAMPLE: When I bowled pot games about two decades ago, it was not just for

                 the money I could win, but to gain confidence as I beat better bowlers who 

                 thought I would be an easy target. Some called me fish when I started to bowl

                 pot games. It wasn’t even a year before some realized I was now the shark who

                 was feeding on some of the fish, who were once considered the sharks, with

                 some having more money than game.

15. Very few are born with talent! Talent will only take you so far. If you compete against 

         any pro, they not only have talent, but also have experiences to help them in most 

         situations. Pros and those with talent can be beat, but your focus and your GREAT

         mental game will be tested. Remember that your experiences and decision making 

         can take you farther where you may not have thought was possible. Just be 

         yourself and get a routine that will keep you consistent. Having consistence leads to

         repeating GREAT shots and the start of having success. It is your belief of knowing

         you can repeat great shots, that opponents will know you’re not easy prey. Having a 

         GREAT mental game solves many problems that come up consistently. Athletes with 

         talent may have a good mental game, but that doesn’t mean they’re guaranteed to 

         win the match. Do your best and stay positive against those with talent or pros and 

         hopefully a little luck with your GREAT mental game will help in the match.

                 EXAMPLES: I know a bowler who is in the Hall of Fame and has a lot of talent, but

                 he ALWAYS shows up just in time to bowl. Sure, he has won many titles, but I 

                 have on several occasions beat him. Anyone with talent can be beat, but it won’t

                 be easy. I had to beat two Hall of Famers when I won the Senior Masters. This was

                 a time where I was on my game for five months straight. Simply put, some 

                 matches will just come down to who wants to win more, and don’t forget to 

                 smile😊, because you’ve earned it!

16. Trust your method. If it isn’t broke, why fix it? If it is broke, normally a small change

        may be the right answer to your problems. There should be no need to scrap

        everything and start over. If your trigger for your routine is lacking a punch, replace it 

        to help quiet your mind. Quiet minds conquer bad habits. Bad habits will handcuff 

        athletes and bad results can begin to show you that something needs fixing and fast. 

        Every chance to perform is your chance to show complete trust in your ability to do 

        GREAT things. If your method needs fixing, maybe changing the order you schedule 

        before the match, could be the right way to go. Trying to fix the mental game’s little 

        hangups won’t be the same as some athletes experience different aspects of

        competition, because of their sport. Trust your experience as well. Athletes with more 

        experience and of course champions, will trust decisions because of having a greater

        knowledge of the many situations they have been involved in. Trust is a bond that’s 

        hard to destroy. When you trust your actions to see good results, you’re on the way to 

        gaining more confidence. 

                   EXAMPLE: My mental coach, Beth, proved how valuable trust is and after a few 

                 sessions of trusting her knowledge to help other athletes, I finally shot my first 800

                 series in bowling. Trust can be hard to do at times when things do go as planned. 

                 But to get back on top your game, you MUST TRUST making correct adjustments 

                 and refocus to climb back to the top. A post bowl evaluation may show that trust 

                 will bring more positive outcomes.

17. Appreciate the little victories. Even trying to win major championships, these small 

         victories add to your experiences, and you gain valuable knowledge. Victories may 

         not be tournament wins or winning the championship but reaching one of your 

         season’s goals. Champions will add up these little victories before winning any 

         major tourneys. Anything positive needs reinforcement. Reliving victories will 

         strengthen your confidence, and you should do this several times per season. Even 

         victories that may not mean so much to some athletes, maybe your biggest win in 

         your career. When going after the season’s championship, any victory before the 

         championship tournament is huge! It is HUGE I tell you. Many athletes who won a 

         smaller tournament before the Grand Slam event, went on to win that Grad Slam 

         tournament! That’s why I capped the whole word. Victories can’t be taken from you, 

         unless a strange event happens, like doing something against the rules of the sport. 

         Take any win and remember what you did for the week before it and recap why you 

         came out to compete for the title and what you did right to win. Write these down in 

         your logbook so you can refer to this before the next tournament, so it’s fresh in your

         mind. Try doing everything the same except for adjustments, as adjustments are 

         situation based and could be different in your current tourney. Trust your experience

         as previous adjustments could be the same.

                   EXAMPLE: It was 18 years before I won the Senior Masters, when I bowled in a

                 Challenge marathon 12 game tournament. I started with a 257 to win extra 

                 money in the high game pot. I backed that first game with 266 and missed 

                 winning the 2nd high game pot by 3 pins. I was near the top of the leaderboard

                 all day even with shooting 163 my 5thgame. After ten games, I was sitting in first 

                 place with about a 30 pin lead over second. I made a goal at that time to shoot

                 420 as the scores were lower due to the number of games we’ve bowled. I just

                 missed my goal as I shot 401 and was rewarded with a $500 check winning 

                 the tournament.  A GREAT way to finish, miss your gaal and STILL WIN!

18. Take a deep breath! It helps calm you before you MUST HAVE shot. It should be in your

         pre-shot routine, but maybe not the last thing you do, so every shot feels the same. 

         Remember your first frame when you struck, were you thinking about 300 before you

         threw it? Probably not. Now that you have the first 11 strikes, why is this last shot 

         different? Maybe because more people will be watching and you now told yourself

         of the 300, more pressure will occur. It shouldn’t be, if you want more perfect games! 

         Like I just said, avoid the deep breath right before the shot, as it might signal your 

         brain that the shot is more important than any other shot you just threw and can 

         stand in the way of “proforming” in the ZONE. It’s little things like this that can keep 

         athletes wondering why good results don’t happen more often. Remember that if it 

         works for you, then do it. Everyone is different. After adding a deep breath to be a

         little earlier in your routine, keep it consistent in your routine order. 

                    EXAMPLE: I’ll not make any shot feel more important than any other I throw that

                  day. And the way that helps me to relax is a deep breath before stepping up on 

                  the approach, and focus then on throwing a great shot and let the result speak 

                  for themself.

19. Drop these C’s. Don’t complain, criticize and compare. You can’t flood your mental

         game with these three factors. It’s a tug of war with your positive attitude and you’ll 

         be on the short end of the rope. Your focus should not be on anything outside of 

         your control. Complaining will show others, your mental game isn’t at a high level 

         because you didn’t get the result you wanted. Complaining and even thinking about

         a negative result can be deadly. The pressure with complaing or critizing, won’t 

         encourage GREAT shots. Focus on WHAT MUST HAPPEN to keep matches close so

         you’ll have more opportunities for winning. So, your opponent got a good break and 

         took the lead. Criticizing them also shows your mental game needs work. When you 

         show others that good breaks for your opponent will happen and something you 

         can’t control, you’ll be ready as only one good break usually isn’t the determining 

         factor in most matches. And comparing results won’t help you at all, as any result is 

         due to competition is what unfolds at that moment and any changes that occur at 

         that time. Also comparing athletes with different skills and experiences isn’t being 

         productive. Simplifying things in competition can only help you take control of most 

         matches you’re in. Don’t make things more complicated than they must be. 

                    EXAMPLE: A long, long time ago, I was involved in a bowling match where my

                  team had a chance to make the playoffs. The opposing team was getting all the

                  good breaks. It’s harder to compete when nothing good is happening to you, to 

                  help keep you close in any match. If you do the best you can under all 

                  circumstances, you should be able to live with the results and what yo  just

                  learned will benefit you in the future.

20. These 10 C’s are right up your alley 😊 ! Character, conscious, competitive, clarity, 

         committed, control, courage, composure, consistency and confident. These are

         attributes of a champion, and you will need them if you do another c long enough,

         which is challenge yourself. (As I said in the first segment, luck does happen. Well, 

         you’re in luck because I wrote an article on these 10 C’s and 4 others.) These C’s 

         are just a part of integrating your mental game to strengthen what you have

         already done. These ten C’s should show why you need a better mental game. None 

         of these factors by themselves will make you a world class athlete. Knowing that

         each factor added to your game will help you when faced with those MUST HAVE 

         shots. If you live and breathe all 10 factors during competition, you should be proud

         of yourself having knowledge that can influence what results you’re expecting. 

         And yes, I have an article on C’s and hope you’ll learn why they’re important to you 

         when you compete. 

                    EXAMPLE:I have won my second club championship in golf because having

                  knowledge of these C’s takes most of the pressure you’ll face, off you. Less 

                  pressure and better performances? You athletes that compete without using

                  just one of these factors, maybe at a disadvantage at your next contest. I know

                  that these factors interconnect and help me keep my perspective to focus on 

                  what matters most. Some say one championship could be luck, but two

                  championships shows you have the knowledge and that you have the ability to

                  get the job done! Since I had to use two previous rounds added to my final

                  round, the C’s helped provide me with motivation, compete with almost no 

                  pressure, kept the pressure on my opponents due to not making many mistakes

                  and kept me focused on winning my second golf championship!

21. Own it! If you threw it, be accountable for whatever result happened. During any

         match, distractions could occur even if you were ready for them, and you didn’t 

         repeat a GREAT shot. Whatever result occurs, don’t lose your temper! Refocus on

         your next shot. If you know the 345 factors and how they might affect your game, the

         sooner you can get back to owning more great shots! Since variables keep

         changing, what happened before is slightly different. If you’re unaware of what’s 

         happening right in front of you, how can you make the best decision for an

         adjustment. Tournaments are just seasonal challenges that test who’s the best at 

         that time. If you’re coming out of a slump, there will be more things to focus on. You

         need to be aware of opponents trying to dictate who wins the game. I know, you say

         it’s only one game, but then it turns into two games and so on. Complete focus

         solves many problems as you should now know. Stay within yourself to start throw 

         GREAT shots again and take back command of the match. 

                    EXAMPLE: I’ve seen too many bowlers get down on themselves and be frustrated

                  after a good shot that didn’t carry. Not all good shots carry and now you must 

                  clean up the mess (a spare). Showing frustration gives your competitor an edge

                  if they keep the pressure on you during the contest. Most pressure is self-induced

                  and having a great mental game will eliminate most pressure. 

22. Help maybe hard to find. This is about finding quality coaching or your teammates 

         giving advice. Not everything you try will work. What you may need to do is travel an 

         hour or two to find good help. Ask around and use the internet to check all your 

         options. Paying for multiple lessons may not be the best way to improve your game.

         It will save you money, but at what cost? If after one lesson you felt they didn’t help 

         you, all lessons after that could be a waste of money. Not all coaches are the same. 

         Remember that sports keep evolving and unless the coach understands the new 

         technology and equipment, his help may be limited. 

                    EXAMPLES: One bowling coach in Las Vegas was a waste of time as he said I had

                  a solid game. He didn’t offer any real suggestions for improvement. My last 

                  bowling lesson, I took a two hour trip  to Phoenix and saw Andrew. After three

                  shots he saw a way that helped me. I shot a 300 several months after his lesson. 

                  And the hardest part of being coached on the mental game is that there are

                  very few mental coaches for sports. I found a flyer about quitting smoking that

                  had sports on it. I called and booked six lessons to get one lesson free. This by

                  far was the best thing I did in my bowling career. Beth got me to log results like I

                  did years ago and grade each throw I made based on my mental focus. The 

                  logbook made me accountable when I put down a 3 out of 5 and I was able to 

                  quickly regroup and started to throw GREAT shots. She was so happy when I told

                  her I shot my first 800. After games of 268 and 269, I started with 9 spare, strike 

                  and 9 spare. I was trying too hard to make an 800 happen and now I had to

                  throw the next eight in a row. It helped me relax and before the 9th frame, I 

                  thought to myself, I needed a turkey, which I have done a thousand time

                  before. I went off the sheet because I was focused to help my team win the

                  third game. My lifelong goal of 800 was achieved, because I saw a mental 

                  coach who got me thinking about what I was capable of. She helped me see

                  the Path to Excellence by taking small steps to compete in the ZONE, to focus 

                  better on all shots and reduced pressure in MUST HAVE situations. Those steps I 

                  learned from her are close to the same steps I teach you in my first HOW TO 

                     book! WOW!! It’s  TOTALLY amazing what you can accomplish once you put 

                     your mind to it!

23. Be surprised by what you can do!If you don’t challenge yourself, you won’t be able to 

          tell how good you could be. Your potential is determined by several factors, the work

          you put into practice, the goals you set, the coaching you received and how much 

          would a win mean to you. Make no mistake about it, you will be tested, and it might

          take awhile to get “comfortable” when it happens. When you have a good mental 

          game, most matches should be close in the end. But when you develop and now

          use your GREAT mental game, you should start to see victories tally up. “Your will to 

          win” should energize you enough to claim the win. 

                     EXAMPLE: Did I ever think that I would be a two-sport champion? Until I started

                   to compete on a monthly basis in golf, I didn't I would be. I did take a few 

                   lessons in golf, and he fixed my swing so I could have more fun and helped

                   lower my scores on the course. Golf is a game where I MUST PRACTICE, or I won’t 

                   play very well. I went many years without playing any rounds and it showed 

                   when I started to play on a regular basis. These ideas I’ve listed are reasons why

                   I won my second championship. KNOWLEDGE WINS CHAMPIONSHIPS!! 

                      KNOWLEDGE IS POWER in sports!

24. Keep going strong! Very few athletes have won majors their first time around. It’s 

           because they value these tournaments differently. Because of their value, they’re 

           usually putting more pressure on themself. Trust the procedure of treating all shots 

           the same, no matter how important it is or when it is. What you do and why you do 

           certain things, will obviously determine how successful your sports career can be

           for you. Sticking to anything can be tough at times, but many GREAT champions

           took advantage of their knowledge and skill to win multiple championships. It’s 

           always easier the second time around as I have firsthand knowledge for this 

           subject. Confidence helps you keep your goals in sight and your belief will help you 

           battle to the end! No matter the result, you keep at it to learn why something could 

           keep you from your goal. Then you fix it and continue on your route to achieve your

           goal. Quitters have trouble winning and fixers may soon find that winning has been 

           within them! 

                      EXAMPLE: Results may not always be what you expected, no matter how good 

                    your mental game is. If you’re not getting good results, what are you doing to 

                    change that? A simple question that could change your career. Unless you

                    want to see more positive results, tweak what needs to be changed and

                    change what needs to be tweaked! What you say? I’m talking attitude and 

                    expectations. Having a great mental game helps with what priorities get the 

                    most attention. Are you now paying attention? Since you should be, keep at it. 

                    GREAT things can happen to those who have staying power!

25. Find the love! If you don’t love the sport you participate in, you may need to change

           sports. There are several sports where you can be competitive at any age. I realize 

           that trying to love anything can be difficult, when very few positive outcomes go

           your way. Working on both the mental and physical game, could help you find that

           love. When you love what you’re doing including sports, it won’t seem like work. Put 

           some mental game work in to benefit your love, so you should see more results in 

           your favor. Some say, loves conquers everything and that’s true in sports as well.

           After having a little fun, your love for the sport may happen. Until you’ve been in 

           your sport for a couple of years, have fun competing and see if you start loving or 

           continue to love your sport. You MUST enjoy participating in your sport, not because

           of the potential money, but because you’re good at it and want to participate 

           every week. 

                      EXAMPLES: I come across several bowlers over the years who bowl leagues at

                    least three times a week. Your love for bowling will help you through some

                    rough stretches where opponents may seem to have all the good luck on their 

                    side. Note: Don’t overdo any sport, as it can lead to slumps and bad habits. You 

                    need one to two days of rest to keep sports fresh or burn-out could happen

                    and then you have another problem. Love what you’re doing!!

26. Smile! 😊Go ahead and show your opponents, you’re there to compete and ready 

            for action. Remember that the results speak louder than action. Don’t ever let the 

            results take that smile away because of just one shot. Regroup and reload to keep 

            smiling all the way to the bank. It’s definitely harder to wipe a smile off someone’s 

            face who’s having a great time just competing. Even the sports gods seem to help

            those having the most fun😊. Smiles show others your confidence when in a 

            match. People watching you compete should be smiling as well, when you 

            control situations that will happen. Smiles help you to relax and reduce pressure 

            instead of forcing shots that can cost you winning the game. 

                       EXAMPLE:I saw a PBA bowler on TV a few decades ago, who made the TV show

                     for the first time in his career. it was clear to everyone watching, as he

                     competed with a smile on his face the entire time, that it was special to him 

                     and no one was going to get in the way of him winning the title that day.

27. Hold your head high! Your body language can tell others what your confidence level 

             is. Being competitive is about managing the ups and downs during a match. 

             Keeping your head high regardless of the results, shows others you’re still focused 

             to finish the contest. Any event can show your strengths and weaknesses. Showing

             any frustration after the result also fuels your opposition, will give them more hope 

             and can snowball during a game. Having a GREAT mental game because you

             read my book, should help show your confidence and worry your opponents. Not 

             holding your head high can open the door slightly, where your competition may 

             walk in and take control. 

                        EXAMPLE: I have watched a good bowler self-destruct, because of two shots 

                      that didn’t go as planned and slammed his fist on a table. He lost the first

                      game of two by less than ten pins and he couldn’t shoot even 200 his final

                      game because he couldn’t see straight being ticked off. I did see him later in a

                      tournament and he hasn’t changed. Having a win or else philosophy, 

                      shouldn’t be they way anyone who has read any article on my HOW TO

                      website or has read either of my books, should approach any upcoming

                      match. You’re better than that! Note: there have been a few who have read my

                      first HOW TO book and show a little disappointment, but they normally

                      rebound very quickly.

28. Dream to believe! When you dream about something you want to accomplish, focus

             to believe it will happen! It’s the moment you start believing YOU CAN DO IT, can

             you work out a schedule, to work on how to make it a reality. Some dreams won’t 

             require a lot of work, because you already have some tools to keep your dream 

             alive. Some dreams may not come true, but you can’t let all your dreams slip

             away. But you if believe it could happen and follow through a plan to make it 

             happen, you’ll be admiring the way you made it happen. There will always be

             things in sports that some will be amazed with because of what it took to 

             accomplish it. Most know that most accomplishments, are from having the 

             experiences and then believe it will happen. Belief is a powerful commodity and

             one reason why upsets do occur at times. When the winners of any semi-final 

             match make the finals, both should believe they could win the tournament. But it 

             takes more than belief to win the final match. It will take a game plan, focusing to 

             get positive results early and then travel to the ZONE, where you should have

             better than a 50-50 chance to walk away a winner! I feel that most events are won

             by those who showed they had the better mental game and followed their game

             plan. 

                         EXAMPLE: Without belief in yourself, you have doubt. Doubt will poison your

                      mental game. Before I knew about how important the mental game really was

                      and had very little positive events to help my confidence, it’s no doubt that my

                      doubts, kept me from doing great things earlier in my bowling career. Once I 

                      realized the potential of what the mental game can unlock, I didn’t doubt 

                      anything else I did. Believe or bust, it’s now up to you on how you compete!

29. Have fun!! These two words pack a powerful punch! A lot of great athletes have told 

             reporters those two words for a reason. Sometimes athletes get wrapped up in 

             winning that they forget that having fun, reduces self-induced pressure and have

             a better chance for positive results. What else can I say, it’s always going to be 

             more fun getting to the top, than staying at the top. When you’re at the top, 

             everyone wants to take your place, because being at the top shows the hard work

             you put into your game. Having fun keeps you more relaxed with less stress, so 

             pressure will be minimized. Less pressure will help you repeat great shots. And 

             what happens when you continue to string strikes with great shots? It can put 

             opponents in panic mode because they know that the match could get out of

             hand very quickly. Most athletes having fun are usually at the cashier getting their 

             winnings. All athletes should have a goal for the week, to just have fun and forget 

             the score. Yes, I did say to focus on how good you threw the ball and not the 

             result of that shot. TRY IT, you might just like it! 

                         EXAMPLE: There was a week I was bowling a tournament, and I told someone I 

                      would be shooting 700. I never shot 700 before, so why did I tell someone I

                      would shoot 700? I had shot a lot of high 600’s and bowling well. I did record

                      my first 700 because I was relaxed, repeated good shots and was having so 

                      much fun, it didn’t discourage me going after my goal.

          What a list in this long article, to help athletes think about these priorities and why they’re important. Many of my examples happened several times over the last 30 years. It’s amazing that 29 ideas could improve your sport, where you can show others, you stepped up your game. Only when your priorities are in your routine, can you start to fix and tweak areas of your game that need to be improved. Most of you may have one or two items of these 29, that may need immediate attention, so it’s not the worst news. The good news is that you want to improve and hopefully this article should motivate you into action, so your future is not only brighter, but should be lined with more positive outcomes and could create bigger prize fund checks! 

As always, See you in the ZONE! 

Don't whine, go for the win and dine!

By Alan Brizee ©  Sept 2024,  Author of The Path to Excellence and 

               From Excellence to Success

      Can WINNING DOESN'T EVER GET OLD!  answer should be, yes you can! Remember that wins come from having a GREAT day or tournament where you proformed at your best! I felt this poem has a place on my HOW TO website. Since winning isn't easy, my thoughts here carry some weight since I have won championships in two sports. What you read will only help you think more about the resons to win or your will to win! And some of you may

know, WINNING DOESN'T EVER GET OLD!

Bowling that tests your skill can be plus,

The pattern will be something to discuss, 

To keep my MUST HAVE shots in focus!

Going after a major title was my lifelong goal,

I compete to have fun and have a ball to roll,

Now that I have won, I had something to scroll!

Single tournaments are mostly my solitude,

Where the importance is a different magnitude,

But I don’t have to worry, I have my positive attitude!

When tourneys near, it’s time to go over my list,

Sport patterns can put my mental game in a twist,

A double elimination final is great because I can persist!

When repeating GREAT shots, I won’t need much luck,

Hit the pocket so my opponent will know I just struck,

Any major is about WINNING the title, not grabbing a buck!

With another practice session and putting in time for my drill,

I was able to see valuable practice pay off developing a new skill,

It won’t take long to accumulate wins, so others will see my thrill!

Being positive and having fun while competing is just one key,

Bowling in close matches make me thirsty, so I grabbed some tea,

I’ll repeat shots, because my arm swing isn’t forced, it swings free!

Having a tournament routine showing I’m invested is a must,

Not documenting what I have done could lead to being a bust,

I’ve worked hard to have a GREAT mental game that I can trust!

I can learn a lot about the lanes when my ball is thrown,

The results indicating how well I threw it, will finally be shown,

There will be more strikes, because I “proformed” in the ZONE!!

That morning after a good sleep, I was able to rise,

There’s nothing better than going after a big prize,

I stayed within my game, so I’ll be the one they recognize!

There were a few that knew I made the finals once again,

And showing up on Sunday to bowl, everyone saw my grin,

This tournament was different as you’ll read, I wanted to win!

Most of my opponents had trouble acknowledging my stun,

I kept repeating GREAT shots, until the tournament was done,

At the end after the dust settled and holding the hardware that I finally WON!!

As always, See you in the ZONE!