A Moon Valley swimmer inhales deeply as she stares at the still pool water. On the other side of campus, a football player puts on his headphones as he awaits his coaches pregame clap. These two settings share a defining factor for competition: mental preparation.

At Moon Valley High School, each student-athlete has one goal: to play or compete to the best of their ability.

Mental preparation is key to succeeding at any sport. A proper mindset is the connective tissue that binds the work from practice to the performance of the game.

Swimming and football could not be more different from one another. Even though these sports are performed in different settings, both swimmers and football players share the ability to individually prepare for their competitions. 

One of the most important things a student-athlete needs is an executed preparation plan that holds concentration, self-confidence and an underlying source of motivation.  

Malik Clark is a four-year defensive starter at Moon Valley. Being a senior this year, Clark has evolved his preparation method throughout his four-year stardom.

“Every time before a game I tape my left thumb,” Clark said. “I write down two names: Elizabeth and Lucas, both are my children. Before the game starts and after our team clap, I always pray.”

Senior swimmer Dylan Moreno and Clark share similar mindset strategies. Both Moreno and Clark use family as a source of positive motivation.

Moreno said that listening to hard rock and discussing scenarios with his dad are his primary ways of getting into the zone. 

“I try to separate myself from the team because I try to get myself in a serious mode and away from all of the chatter,” Moreno said. “My dad tells me to keep pushing myself and during the race to not focus on how I’m actually feeling, but how I want to feel after the race.”

Being mentally prepared for a game is not what drives an athlete to success. Holding on to a strong emotion while preparing helps intensify the desire to strive.

“I hold onto my two kids. They are my inspiration and I have them look down on me so that I’ll do good,” Clark said.

Mikey Vazquez, a sophomore linebacker and a newer member of the Moon Valley football team, thinks about his goals in life as a way to fully prepare himself for games.

“I hold onto family and think about what I’m really working for: college and making it a career,” Vazquez said.  

The amount of time an athlete spends on a team does not define their ability to put themselves in the best mindset possible.

Bryanna Norwood has been on the Moon Valley swim team for only two years. So far, Norwood has composed a method that makes her shine in the water.

“The most important part of my preparation would be before I even get into the water, that I’m mentally prepared,” Norwood said. “I normally tell myself that this is it, you can do this and there’s no stopping now.”

Norwood said that the one thing she never wants to lose in the water is her concentration. If her focus is not at 100 percent, then her performance will not meet her expectations.

It’s normal for athletes to feel pressure from the sport they are competing in. If an athlete allows themselves to become mentally blocked, they play the risk of having a poor performance.

Clark and Norwood both said that performing in their sports is their way of pushing through the mental barriers.

Clark said that going with the flow is the best way to overcome his pressures. Using football as a way to unleash his frustrations and aggressions allows him to cope with his personal struggles.

Norwood erases her mental blockage by pushing herself harder than she would for a meet that she felt prepared for. Adding the extra step of effort allows her to overcome the tension that swimming can bring. 

Coaches play a significant role in the mental preparation process. If a coach is not fully developed with their team, the athletes can lose focus in what their trying to achieve.

Head swim coach Jennifer Ziance said that mental preparation is needed at every single practice, not just before meets.

“Preparation is what do I need to focus on in practice right now in order to make the next meet a better experience for them,” Ziance said. “When I talk to them right before an event I try not to look at the negatives, but tell them that they can do this.”

Coach Ziance said that in order for an athlete to be fully prepared they need a mix of both fun and hard work. 

“There are times when we need to be serious and to get the work done that needs to be done,” Ziance said. “Swimming is something they can do for the rest of their lives. A love of the sport and a love of bonding is something that I hope they take away.”

Head football coach Seth Millican said that each kid is different when it comes to mentally preparing them. If one is deeply in their own head, he will try different tactics until they feel ready to play.

“I think the most important thing for me is that high school football is fun for these kids,” Millican said. “I’m not screaming, I’m not the military type of coach and some would call me soft, but I think the most important thing for me is that at the end of this season these kids enjoyed their time. Hopefully the overall experience is positive.”