Recreational sports events might not be as large-scale or mainstream as regular sports, but that doesn’t necessarily make them any less competitive. Fair enough, recreational games are primarily geared towards having fun. However, you’d still want to win when you partake in the event, right?
Putting some time into training for the event can be well worth it, but this brings up a question – how do you train for a recreational sports event? Well, here’s a comprehensive guide on how to go about it.
1. Explore different tactics
Winning a sports event isn’t just about performance – devising the best strategy is just as important. Explore and experiment with different tactics to see what works and what doesn’t. For example, when practicing for a game of Capture the Flag, for instance, players can come up with strategies to pin down or distract the opponent team to successfully retrieve the flag.
“To excel in a recreational sports event, focus on consistent training that combines skill development, strategic thinking, and teamwork, because it’s not just about winning, but enjoying the game to the fullest.”, said Tavish Archer from ThrilloGaming in an interview with us.
So, remember to tailor your tactics as per the map and other aspects of the game. From vantage points to cover structures, leverage every element to secure a win.
2. Practice, practice, and practice
It might not be as “serious” as soccer, basketball, or other professional sports, but winning a recreational sports event still takes a lot of practice. You don’t need to spend hours every day training for the event, but do practice regularly to refine your skills. One can’t expect to win an Airsoft tournament without being able to shoot moving targets accurately, or remain stealthy and unnoticed when needed.
3. Train with the gear you’d use at the event
Depending on the kind of sport you are planning to play, your overall performance and experience might depend on the equipment you use. Now, in case the event requires you to use a specific type of gear, make sure that’s what you train with.
Let’s take a paintball event for example. Players may be required to use paintball guns provided by the arena to keep to level the playing field and make sure the winner is determined by their skills rather than equipment. In such cases, it’s best to train with the same type of paintball gun that would be provided during the event. Players who train mostly with semi-automatic paintball guns might find themselves at a disadvantage if they’re handed a bolt-action paintball rifle instead.
4. Practice in the same field
For some recreational sports, learning the arena or field where you’d be playing can give you a decisive edge. Laser tag arenas, for instance, are often built like mazes. The better you know the map, the easier you can catch your opponent off-guard without letting them do the same to you.
Just like in video games, playing in the same arena repeatedly helps you memorize every nook and cranny. Hence, it’s recommended to practice in the same arena where the event would be held. Find and memorize every vantage point and hiding spot to outplay your opponent.
5. Train with your team
This crucial tip might seem a bit obvious, but it’s often ignored in case of recreational sport events due to the relatively casual nature of the sports. Practicing regularly with the team that would be playing alongside you in the event helps you build better coordination and teamwork. Especially when playing in the same arena as mentioned earlier, you may build smart tactics to outsmart and ambush the opponent. It also promotes better communication within the team, further enhancing its performance.
6. Keep your goals realistic
Setting personal goals is a great way to get better at pretty much anything. However, here’s something to remember – the goals you set must be realistic and achievable. Players practicing for sports events often set unrealistic goals and expectations, which only lead to stress and frustration.
The best way to go about it is to build up slowly by setting smaller, weekly goals and gradually working your way up. For instance, those playing a sniper role in paintball or gel blaster battles can set a goal to take out opponents consistently from a certain distance and gradually increase it.
7. Stay motivated
If you are to come out on top, you must stay motivated. No matter the odds and no matter how you fare during your practice matches, you must do your level best. When training as a team, every member has a responsibility to keep each other from getting demotivated when things don’t go so well. Only then, you’d be able to turn the odds in your favor.
8. Get the best gear you can
While this isn’t exactly a part of training, acquiring better gear can be of great help if you’re allowed to use your own equipment at the tournament. Whoever wields the best gel blaster or airsoft gun in the arena gains a serious advantage. A powerful blaster not only strikes fast, but also allows you to take out your opponents from longer distances. Especially if you plan to participate in competitive events often, it’s worth investing in better equipment.
Proper training and practice not only help you win a recreational sports event, but also make it a lot more fun. Training for the event doesn’t need to be a stressful deal. After all, it is all about having fun. So, grab your gear, get to the arena with your friends, and have a blast preparing to secure your win.
