One goal lead
You're narrowly in the lead and the game is getting tough.
You have a narrow lead. You keep staring at the clock, desperate not to blow it. You still need a clear job to do on court.
What can help you right now
- 1Take in the tactical call: how are you running the next attack? Don't just try to run down the clock on your own.
- 2Stick to your run and stay open for a pass, even if you're nervous.
- 3Call out your assignments clearly in defence. Keep your eyes on the ball and your player, not on the clock.
Here's what that can look like in handball
You freeze up out of fear even though you're supposed to cut inside. Remind yourself: 'running path' – and commit to the play.
For your next training session
Practise holding narrow leads with your coach. Clarify tactical instructions so you don't start making up your own rules during the match out of nerves.
How you can bring it up
'How do we run the attack when we have a narrow lead, and what's my job?'
Things you don't have to deal with alone
Blowing a lead isn't proof of mental weakness. Decisions during a match are far more complex than that.
If you want to keep working on this
Suitable Mental Hacks
Methods and boundaries of these tips
The linked methods outline general approaches. They don't prove that these exact steps will work for you. These tips are ideas to try out, not a guarantee of better performance or more minutes.