HYPE SQUAD

ryan3478
6 days ago
1 min read

Recently, my son competed in a powerlifting meet in Iowa City. It was an amazing atmosphere, partially because a number of the University of Iowa football players were there to hype up the lifters. It’s hard to not give it 100% effort when you have that in your ear!

Glowing "HYPE" sign with colorful bokeh lights; silhouette of a person in the background, creating an energetic party atmosphere.

While you might not have (or need) an entire football team there to get you in the zone, there is absolutely a benefit to getting in the right headspace to perform, especially when it comes to training.

This is different for everyone. It could be music, self-talk, clapping, slapping (yes, you’ll see this), training partners, cheering, jeering, and the list goes on and on.

Crowd at a concert, cheering with raised hands. Diverse group, excited expressions. Dimly lit background with stage lights. Casual attire.

One of the things I used to do when I would compete in powerlifting is have a physical cue that immediately got me in the zone. Most watching me probably didn’t even notice, but it helped me flip my “mental switch”.

If you don’t have something reliable you can count on, seek it out and find your own pre-game ritual.