Everyone who has ever participated in competitive sports knows that starting a new season is a lot of hard work. It’s normal to feel a little nervous about getting started. It’s normal to feel a little overwhelmed with everything that has to be done and the big goals you’ve got in mind. That can be true whether this is your first year of competitive fencing or your tenth.
How you kick off the season can have a big impact on how you perform all season long. Getting off on the right foot in August can lead to a success in June! Momentum is something that has to be built up from the start, propelling fencers forward towards more success with less stress. Humans are creatures of habit. We tend to gravitate towards our comfort zones, to lean in to what’s familiar. You can establish this comfort zone consciously and so shape how you manage the entire fencing season from the outset.
Setting yourself up for success is easy and a skill that every fencer should learn how to do. But how can you set yourself up for success? It’s not only about your training, there are some additional things you can do. Here are five ways that fencers can set themselves up for great competitive fencing season from day one.