The Crowd Factor: Channelizing the Energy
It’s time to get out of the locker room. You take your first step onto the field and you’re welcomed with a deafening roar of claps. You look up to see yourself surrounded by thousands and lakhs of fans who have all their hopes pinned on you. From across the world, they’ve travelled to see you play – to cheer you on, to watch you succeed. For any young child working tirelessly to become a sportsperson, this has always been the dream.
And yet, sometimes these same crowds get the better of us. Thoughts like “Everybody is watching me”, “What will people say if I don’t score today”, “They’ll mock me if I make a mistake?” begin to haunt us. The power of the crowd is a double-edged sword. Learn how channelize it right.
1. Soak in the Energy – Playing a match is both physically and mentally exhausting – but the crowds around you are a source of endless energy. Raise your bat to the crowd, egg them on to cheer, do a victory dance. Connect with the crowds and soak in the energy.
2. Remember, You’re Not Alone – Facing an opponent alone on the field can sometimes feel like an isolating experience. In times like these, look to the crowd and remember that you’re surrounded by people who believe in you.
3. Get Motivated, Not Distracted – Situations become what you make of them. Treat crowds as a distraction and you’ll never succeed on the big stage. Instead, get used to the claps and waves, switch off the fears, and let the crowds motivate you to be the very best you can be.
4. Silence the Crowd – People often talk of the pressures of playing games away from the home crowd. Yet, there is nothing more satisfying than stunning spectators into silence. If the crowd is cheering against you, remember that your fans back home are counting on you to give them a fitting response.
