<LyKos>
Smash Cadet
Here it is: It’s time for your first tournament. You’ve played the game for years and honed your skills playing against friends and training partners, and now you’re finally ready to take the next step and take part in your first competitive event.
What to do? Should you train your heart out leading up to the event, intent on taking home first place and the satisfaction of beating everyone you face on your road to becoming the greatest Smash player ever?
Expecting something like this?
Well…
There are certain things a first-time tournament attendee should not and should expect when venturing into the crazy world of competitive Smash. While this list is by no means exhaustive, it covers a great deal of the perspective someone attending his or her first tournament should possess.
You Should Not Expect…
To Win.
This may be a tough lesson for some, but going to your first tournament with the intent of winning it—unless you’re the next coming of Ken or Mango—is setting yourself up for disappointment. Transitioning from purely playing friendlies to competing in tournaments is rough on everyone, and no one should expect to win right out of the gate.
To Play Your Best.
While not as far-fetched as winning your first tournament, playing your best at your first tournament is another long shot. That transition from friendly to competitive play inspires nerves of all kinds. Your heart will pound. Your fingers will clench up. Your palms will sweat. Your mind will slow down. Pressure affects us all, and especially those who are experiencing it for the first time.
To Stay on One Setup for the Entire Tournament.
With this many people at a tournament, staying on one setup just isn't reasonable.
Again, tournaments are not like practicing at home. Other people want to use the setups as well. Keeping people from using the setup on which you're currently playing keeps them from experiencing the fullest from that tournament. Sharing is caring!
To Receive Free Housing/Rides.
This is more for tournaments to which you have to travel. Others are not obligated to house you for free, nor are they obligated to give you a ride to a tournament for free--gas money is quite expensive! Seriously, give the people who host you their proper dues.
To Have People Wait on You.
Clogging up the pool/bracket process because you're off doing who-knows-what is one of the quickest ways to get on everyone's nerves. No one wants a tournament to run later than it needs to. Simply put: Don't be that person.
You Should Expect…
To Learn.
Few things are better teachers than losses. When you go to your first tournament, you will lose games. Here’s a little secret: Losing is not bad so long as you know a loss does not equal defeat. Each loss opens an opportunity for you to improve because every loss brings to light what’s wrong with your play. Every loss and every win is a gateway to further improvement.
To Have a Blast.
Why do we play this game? Why did we first become interested in Smash if not because we had fun? Casual or competitive, everyone plays these games for the same reason: We find it boundlessly fun. Having fun is the reasonto play Smash. Go for the sickest follow-ups. Go for the utmost even if it costs you a life.
To Meet Other Smashers.
This is easily the best part of the tournament experience. The people you meet in the Smash community can be summed up in one word: Genuine. If you have questions about how to improve, ask someone! If you want to play friendlies with everyone, ask them all! Some of the people you meet may become lifelong friends!
Team Ben is a prime example of Smash cementing friendships!
To Play Lots of Friendlies.
Tournament matches are great, but the majority of the matches you'll play--provided the venue has setups available--will be friendlies. Generally, you can ask anyone for a friendly match or two. When you sit down and play friendlies with others, ask them ahead of time to point out areas where you can improve! Doing that is a quick, efficient way to find your areas of improvement.
To Be Friendly.
Just as the other smashers are open and encouraging--for the most part--so should you. If someone takes a loss badly, be the first one to take them aside and encourage them. That'll make a world of difference in that person's experience. If you lose, give the other player their dues; he or she played a solid game and outplayed you. Encouragement is a wonderful cycle. Keep it going!
Hopefully you're now adequately equipped to take on your first tournament. Know the game goes beyond the parameters of "Go!" and "Game!" and use that knowledge to make your first tournament experience one of the best in your surely-budding Smash career.
Best of luck!
The Face of Beau is a Professional Writing Major at Taylor University and an Indiana-based Smasher. Find him on Twitter at @FaceofBeaumont
What to do? Should you train your heart out leading up to the event, intent on taking home first place and the satisfaction of beating everyone you face on your road to becoming the greatest Smash player ever?
Expecting something like this?
There are certain things a first-time tournament attendee should not and should expect when venturing into the crazy world of competitive Smash. While this list is by no means exhaustive, it covers a great deal of the perspective someone attending his or her first tournament should possess.
You Should Not Expect…
To Win.
This may be a tough lesson for some, but going to your first tournament with the intent of winning it—unless you’re the next coming of Ken or Mango—is setting yourself up for disappointment. Transitioning from purely playing friendlies to competing in tournaments is rough on everyone, and no one should expect to win right out of the gate.
To Play Your Best.
While not as far-fetched as winning your first tournament, playing your best at your first tournament is another long shot. That transition from friendly to competitive play inspires nerves of all kinds. Your heart will pound. Your fingers will clench up. Your palms will sweat. Your mind will slow down. Pressure affects us all, and especially those who are experiencing it for the first time.
To Stay on One Setup for the Entire Tournament.
With this many people at a tournament, staying on one setup just isn't reasonable.
Again, tournaments are not like practicing at home. Other people want to use the setups as well. Keeping people from using the setup on which you're currently playing keeps them from experiencing the fullest from that tournament. Sharing is caring!
To Receive Free Housing/Rides.
This is more for tournaments to which you have to travel. Others are not obligated to house you for free, nor are they obligated to give you a ride to a tournament for free--gas money is quite expensive! Seriously, give the people who host you their proper dues.
To Have People Wait on You.
Clogging up the pool/bracket process because you're off doing who-knows-what is one of the quickest ways to get on everyone's nerves. No one wants a tournament to run later than it needs to. Simply put: Don't be that person.
You Should Expect…
To Learn.
Few things are better teachers than losses. When you go to your first tournament, you will lose games. Here’s a little secret: Losing is not bad so long as you know a loss does not equal defeat. Each loss opens an opportunity for you to improve because every loss brings to light what’s wrong with your play. Every loss and every win is a gateway to further improvement.
To Have a Blast.
Why do we play this game? Why did we first become interested in Smash if not because we had fun? Casual or competitive, everyone plays these games for the same reason: We find it boundlessly fun. Having fun is the reasonto play Smash. Go for the sickest follow-ups. Go for the utmost even if it costs you a life.
To Meet Other Smashers.
This is easily the best part of the tournament experience. The people you meet in the Smash community can be summed up in one word: Genuine. If you have questions about how to improve, ask someone! If you want to play friendlies with everyone, ask them all! Some of the people you meet may become lifelong friends!
Team Ben is a prime example of Smash cementing friendships!
To Play Lots of Friendlies.
Tournament matches are great, but the majority of the matches you'll play--provided the venue has setups available--will be friendlies. Generally, you can ask anyone for a friendly match or two. When you sit down and play friendlies with others, ask them ahead of time to point out areas where you can improve! Doing that is a quick, efficient way to find your areas of improvement.
To Be Friendly.
Just as the other smashers are open and encouraging--for the most part--so should you. If someone takes a loss badly, be the first one to take them aside and encourage them. That'll make a world of difference in that person's experience. If you lose, give the other player their dues; he or she played a solid game and outplayed you. Encouragement is a wonderful cycle. Keep it going!
Hopefully you're now adequately equipped to take on your first tournament. Know the game goes beyond the parameters of "Go!" and "Game!" and use that knowledge to make your first tournament experience one of the best in your surely-budding Smash career.
Best of luck!
The Face of Beau is a Professional Writing Major at Taylor University and an Indiana-based Smasher. Find him on Twitter at @FaceofBeaumont
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