Extra time
Legs heavy, head full, keep going.
The game carries on even though you're already exhausted. You don't have to pretend you're not tired. Make the most of allowed breaks, and speak up if you can no longer play safely.
What can help you right now
- 1At half-time, grab a drink if you need one and listen to the team talk. You don't need a full match debrief right now.
- 2Ask about your role if it's not clear. Pick one specific task for the next phase.
- 3If you have pain, dizziness, or feel unwell, tell the coach and get sorted. Don't mask it with a motivational quote.
Here's what that can look like in handball
You're exhausted and told to switch defensive positions. Ask for your assignment instead of quietly hoping you'll just figure it out.
For your next training session
Talk to the coach about substitutions and roles during long matches. You don't need extra exhaustion drills to use these tips.
How you can bring it up
'I can tell I'm struggling to react cleanly. Can we talk about a substitution or an adjusted role?'
Things you don't have to deal with alone
'Pushing through at all costs' isn't a mental goal. Physical warning signs need to be taken seriously.
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.