Mental Warfare- How to Get Out of Your Head

I got the idea for this topic while preparing for my last tournament. I signed up for a Preliminary Round of the US Amateur Championships in June. I hadn't played in the event since 2007, before I had actually started taking lessons and learning how to play on the big tables. In my own right, I did win that Preliminary and it was the beginning of the end for my relationship with the barboxes...

When I received the player list, I immediately saw myself as the favorite, even if it was only in my own mind. This was a first for me, as I play in a women's regional tour that has the likes of Liz Cole and Jana Montour dominating most, if not all, events since I began playing on the NWPA in 2008. Without a win since 2009, I started strategizing on my approach and how I would need to prepare myself mentally for the task that lay before me. Only one woman would represent the Northwest at the Final Rounds hosted in Tampa, Florida in November, and I really wanted that person to be me.

I started talking with a couple good friends of mine that have way more competition experience than I do, and asked them how they handled the pressure of being the favorite. Each one gave similar advice and I would like to share it with you, along with the story of my experience handling the situation.

"Play the table, not your opponent" is probably one of the most simple ways to handle any competitive situation. That doesn't necessarily make it any easier to do; however, if you can remember this straight forward piece of advice you will find much less anxiety during tournaments and high pressure league matches. I am reminded of my first experience on the WPBA. I won the NWPA's year end event in 2008, which was a qualifier for the San Diego Classic in 2009. During my first match, I was so awe struck playing in the arena next to the likes of Allison Fisher, Ga Young Kim, Jasmin Ouschan, etc. that my hands didn't stop shaking until I was down 5-0 to Miss Sarah Rousey. Once I started breathing again I won the next three racks. Granted, at that point Sarah turned it up a notch and won the next four games to hand me my first loss, I found something within myself that was worth holding onto. My next match was against Melissa Little, she was ranked 20th on tour at that point, so I knew that my chances were slim to none, but what the hell. I tried to remember how I got to be where I was and I found an inner confidence that carried me to a 6-0 lead. I was playing the table, stroking the ball, and running out racks. Then reality hit me again, the words "I am up 6-0 on Melissa Little" crept into my head and that was it... I started second guessing my shot selection and position play, didn't win another game, lost 9-6 and was eliminated from the tournament. Moral of the story: If I would have continued to focus on playing the table and not my opponent, I would've had a much better opportunity to win.

Back to the US Amateur Championships 2011. I registered for Preliminary Round play at The Cue Ball in Salem, OR. Only 15 ladies signed up for the competition, so I knew that unless I got a bye I would need to win four matches to earn a shot at the Final Round. My first match was scheduled against Dianna Trent. I had played on a team with Dianna several years prior, so I knew that she could play some, but I felt good so wasn't too worried at this point. After registration and the player's meeting I went to look at the board again, and her name had been crossed out and I advanced by default to the next round. Huh, one step closer, I thought. My next match was against Clodagh Lancaster. I keep track of whats going on with much of the country in pool so when I didn't know this lady, I kind of figured she must not play much. To my detriment, I took her for granted and played somewhat loose in the first couple games and ended up down 2-0. "Holy $@*! what am I doing, tighten up girl" raced through my mind. I got a knot in my belly and started thinking about coming through the B side. I know, I know, not a good approach, but I am human and this is what I was thinking about. I won the next rack of 8-ball to make the score 2-1 and then we switched over to 9-ball. Much to my chagrin I lost the first game. Now down by 2 again, I realized I was full of it and I would have to let go of everything if I was going to get through this match. I remembered a piece of advice a different good friend of mine had given.

"Focus on what you're doing, not how you're doing." If you can control your mind, this advice is probably one of the most valuable pieces of information that I have yet to receive. When I am struggling with my position play or start to second guess myself, I try to remember this and revert back to the most simple of things. "Make the ball." I even take it further sometimes if I am losing focus, while as I sit in my chair I chant the words in my mind "I am sitting in my chair, I am waiting for my turn." Recovering my focus on what I was doing allowed me to battle back during my first match, first tying it up at 3, and then taking the lead by a game, until finally I defeated Clodagh 5-3 to advance. My next match was against Theresa Twedt, another player unknown to me. I knew that I didn't want to have the same experience in my second match and was able to maintain crystal clear focus throughout. I won that match 5-1, the only game I lost was when I broke and ran down to the 9, but missed a long shot off the rail.

My next scheduled match was for the hotseat and it would be the winner of Talya Makus and Michelle Nelson. I knew both of these ladies from the NWPA, so knew that I couldn't take either of them for granted. Talya ended up defeating Michelle and we waited for a couple hours to play our match. I knew that Talya wanted to win as much as I did, so it was easier for me to keep my focus on what I was doing. I built an early 3-0 lead, before I let up. It wasn't intentional, but overconfidence and a couple poorly executed shots gave Talya opportunities back at the table that she capitalized on. We exchanged racks for the next three games, putting me on the hill at 4-2. Talya won the next game as well, to bring it within 1, but an early 8 ball in game 8 gave me the set. I felt sick, I didn't want to win that way. Especially against her. One of the hardest things to do is play someone that is your friend; however, by following the two pieces of advice presented earlier you will increase your opportunities for success 10 fold.

The wait on the final was not nearly so long as the one for the hotseat match and it would be a rematch with me and Talya. With an extended race to 9, I definitely felt like I had an edge. This was not my first final in a big event, so I had experience on my side. With my regained composure and intensity, I played my best match of the tournament. I did miss some shots, but overall I played with such focus that I ended up winning by a score of 9-2. I left it all on the table and I feel great about winning an opportunity to compete with some of the best amateur players in the US.

Moral of the story, be the player that you can be by focusing on the right things during competition. We all love the game, so play it the way it should be played. Cheers :) and see ya'll in Tampa!