Bout Day: Mental prep and dodgy metal hair

Either I'm being focused or have just sucked on a lemon.

Told you posts were like buses. I played pretty well on Saturday (at least, I think I did) and I put that down at least in part to my mental preparation in the dressing room before the game.

Prior to the last bout, our captain had given us some notes on bout prep, including mental exercises and visualisation techniques. having done some yoga meditation before I ran through it a few times, using what usually works for me when I'm thinking about not thinking.

Did it help? I think so, but for this bout, against some pretty tough odds, I decided more preparation was required. For a bout like this, I needed a decent playlist, a feeling of invincibility, and some time to think before the bout.

For the playlist, I went to a good mate of mine, who's as keen on music that involves lots of shouting and fuzzy guitars for advice, as well as my own selection of old favourites that have been used when I need to limber up for job interviews, breakups and and other set-the-jaw-and-feel-bulletproof occasions.

A few examples are included for, well, I dunno. An insight into my clichéd, addled mind? Inspiration for when others may feel the need to (and I quote) fuck some shit up? Whatever, it's my blog so NER.



Angry, one of Deftone's best ever tracks ever, have loved this since I was a pimply wee teenage nyaf. Good to know it's now useful as well as awesome.



It's based on Moby Dick and it's the same name as the magazine. what more do you need?



They were playing Auckland the night we bouted. I think playing was more in keeping with the ethos than watching someone else play.



It's Black Sabbath as played by White Zombie. Yes, it's aggressive, and just a little bit cheesy. (a bit like rollerderby sometimes)

I guess where I'm going with this is that I really benefited from spending some time out in the dressing room, listening to aggressive music and really focusing on what I needed to do. I found that it was much easier to focus and visualise being a blocker, giving hits, and getting into the mindset than I did at home listening to nothing. I went out feeling less nervous, more focused, more...ready. Don't confuse aggression with being angry, I wasn't angry at anyone on the track, but derby is a contact sport and without aggression it's just a bunch of women in hotpants skating past each other.

Rhea CycleHer makes the point better than me in this article, which is doing the rounds at the moment. Worth a read!

So, thoughts on this? I like the idea of visualisation and using a cue to help focus. Pre-bout, it's really good to get away from the dressing room chatter for a little bit and spent some time thinking on what needs to be done. I think I must have looked a bit stoned in the dressing room with my headphones on staring into space, people kept asking me if I was OK, but it worked for me. Just need to hone the playlist...