Being prepared for Junior Gold, or any tournament, is more than just packing a suitcase and bringing your bowling bag stocked with supplies. The most overlooked aspect of bowling is what’s called the “mental game.” But what does that mean?
Some believe the mental game is about how a bowler thinks about their attempt at the pins… thinking through which boards and line they need to play to make a certain shot. Others may believe it has to do with knowing how their equipment will react. To me, it’s about checking your emotions at the door, controlling your thoughts towards the next shot, and eliminating distractions. It’s about how you react when things go your way or, more often, when they don’t… if you react at all.
One thing a lot of youth bowlers forget about is that there’s ALWAYS someone watching you. Someone is noticing if you are beating yourself up with negative self-talk — very easy to see when a bowler misses a shot and looks down, shakes their head, extends their hands/arms when pins remain standing like the pins were glued to the lane. It’s also evident when a bowler has “checked out”… just throwing the ball without any rhythm and has that “awe shucks” shoulder shrug when walking back to their seat. Other bowlers see these behaviors and they instantly know you aren’t on your game, which can boost their confidence in turn. Parents see these non-verbal clues and may react in a not-so-favorable way. Potential college coaches will see those behaviors and make a note (written or mental) of who they would rather not deal with down the road.
Parents, this applies to you too. Your behavior is seen by your kid(s), other parents, and coaches — and a difficult / negative / “helicopter” parent can be an eliminating factor for a college coach looking for that last team member & scholarship offer to give. Seeing a rolling of the eyes, or hearing a loud comment of frustration from the crowd, can mess with a kid’s psyche. Be supportive yet genuine; keep emotions and comments in check.
So, what are some methods for dealing with the stress of bowling competition? First off, everyone has to treat each shot as a learning experience, not a grade on a school test. Watch the ball the entire time it rolls down the lane to see what’s going right and what’s happening when things go awry. Make a mental note (or better yet, use pen and paper) to record and analyze how you are playing that lane, that shot, that situation. Watch other bowlers and how they are playing the lanes to get a feel for when the lanes break down. Realize that almost every shot made on a pair of lanes alters the oil layout a little bit, and over time there will be a need for adjustments. You don’t have to act like a robot or overly enthusiastic when leaving a split, just keep a level head in the situation.
Bowlers will often have time in between frames to sneak over to a parent or coach for advice. My advice for giving advice is to keep it simple — work on one thing at a time, not 5 things, and don’t guess. For the bowlers, be humble and receptive but also bring an idea / solution to the conversation. Trust your bowling instincts, and do not allow emotions or distractions to interfere with your game. One final thought: if you really get stressed and need to let it out, in between games switch your shoes and quickly step outside of the bowling alley (where practically no one is watching) to “get it out of your system”… then leave that emotional baggage at the door and make the next shot.
