Preparation Steps for Follow for Basketball Tournaments

Basketball tournaments at the Rocky Mount Event Center are no joke! With enough space to seat a ton of cheering fans, we really like to pack the house. And because we host basketball tournaments for a variety of leagues, we often see new competitors and seasoned vets alike.

For the newbies out there, a facility like ours may seem daunting at first. And when the time comes to put up their best game for the championship, the amount of preparation they put in can make all the difference. So if you’ve got your eyes on Rocky Mount for your next big competition, here are some tips for making sure your nerves don’t get the best of you.

Know When and How to Rest

In the days leading up to basketball tournaments, it’s common for players to psych themselves up. When this happens, they may overwork themselves in practice or cross-training because they’re afraid of being under-prepared. It’s important to remember that even the mental load of a big tournament is going to be greater than a regular game, and that can stress you out enough already. Practice enough to make sure your game is on point, but don’t think you’re going to dramatically improve within 48 hours.

And get some rest, too. Keep in mind that “rest” isn’t necessarily sitting on the couch or lying about the house all day. Taking a long walk or doing other low-intensity movement is a good way to keep your blood moving while not exerting yourself to the point of exhaustion.

Pack in Advance

A big part of preparing for basketball tournaments is how you pack. And especially if you have not participated in one before, you may not be familiar with tournament scheduling or what kind of time you’ll have between games to rest, eat, rehydrate, or stretch. The worst thing that could happen is that you get to the tournament and find that you’ve forgotten your knee wrap or an extra pair of shoes, so pack well in advance to make sure you have everything you will need.

Be Realistic

It’s easy before basketball tournaments to psych yourself up too much. You might start imagining sweeping the tournament, hitting game-winning buzzer-beaters, or making other incredible plays. While visualizing scenarios can be beneficial, like running plays in your head, try to exercise some control over your imagination. When setting goals for your tournament performance, be realistic. Playing confidently will benefit the team more than if you’re making irrational plays because you’re so hyped.

Basketball Tournaments at Rocky Mount Event Center

Whether you take the trophy or don’t (but let’s be real, you will), remember to enjoy the experience. And at a state-of-the-art facility like Rocky Mount, that part should be easy. Maybe schedule an extra day on your tournament trip to check out the Adventure Center with some of your closest teammates. Featuring a ropes course, Clip n’ Climb area, and an arcade, the Adventure Center is a great place to blow off some steam after an intense competition. For tournament scheduling or questions you may have about our venue, please contact us!