It’s the most magical time of the year. 
No, it’s not the holiday season — it’s youth and high school playoffs for fall sports. It’s the time of year where grit and ability are tested, hearts are broken, careers end, and champions are made.
It’s also a time of great stress for fans, players, and possibly most of all, coaches. So, how do you keep cool under pressure?
Research shows that when under stress:
• Our field of view reduces;
• Our cognitive capacity drops as resources are pumped away from the prefrontal cortex (PFC) and into the motor function;
• We have significantly fewer insights; and
• We err on the side of pessimism
So how can you prevent the stress of the playoffs from causing you to make bad game strategy? Here are some tips on how to keep it together:
- Stage a mental dress rehearsal before the big game. Visualize what you’ll do and say in worst-case situations. Not having to create a strategy from scratch in the middle of game-time crisis will ensure your advice is as rational as possible.
- Don’t forget to listen. Assistant coaches are there for a reason, and getting advice from outside parties can help you make the most logical decisions.
- Similarly, know when to walk away for a minute. If your judgment is clouded by panic, anger or other intense emotions, let your other coaches call the shots for a bit.
Good luck to all the coaches gearing up for the big games! And to all the others…there’s always next year!