Rules of surviving your first national tournament. Congratulations! You have entered the nationals. Are you spectating or do you want to win? Answer that one first. If you want to win, read on!
Strive to be on a schedule. Eat properly, at a certain time, and eat wisely! A poor diet or too many adult beverages will beat you more than an opponent! Speaking of, carry energy drink and bars in your bag! Long matches eat into your glycogen reserves, and some sort of nutrition has to be taken during long matches. Water is your friend and hydrate every time out and every chance you get.
Choose your events wisely— if you really are aiming for first place I recommend two divisions max!
Do not hang out and watch matches before yours. It is distracting and you burn energy watching other matches.
Do not conserve energy if you play a weaker opponent. Get in the court and get out! The more you mess around with weaker opponents, the more energy you burn. (assuming you are not injured or have some strategic plan of attack).
Do not lie out in the sun before you match. Do not walk around town for hours before your match. Those activities burn energy fast!
Do relax, and get your mind off racquetball.
Report to your match one hour early at least! Be ready to play early or late!
The name of the game is “survive and move on”!
Oh and…..Have fun! It’s a game!