1: "Good games man."
2: "F*cking F*ggots get so Lucky some times."
1 goes to shake 2's hand, but 2 simply pulls his/her controller out of the port and storms off. 2 later is heard talking about the match.
2: "I could beat em, He/she just got lucky. No skill, it was a lucky gimp. That guy/girl's a scrub. So F*cking lucky."
__________________________
1. "Good games man."
2. "Haha, I know. You're too pro! ^__^"
They shake hands, and later play some friendlies. Though 2 is disappointed about his/her loss, he or she is able to cope with the fact that another member of the community rose up in the bracket.
"I believe that there are certain mentalities that occur when and if we lose. And it's those frustrations that hold us back from our potential in a tournament."
-Sky`
Losing like a Winner: The competitive guide to Losing.
Losing is never fun. Nobody says, "Aww man, I can't wait to spend five dollars to get last in a bracket! Awesome!" Nah, that's rarely the case. And when you lose, especially early in the tournament, you feel just... hopeless. Some feel angry, some feel depressed... some feel just empty. It sucks, I've been there, and I'm sure you have too.
But I feel that when and if we choose to feel these feelings, we set ourselves up for disaster. It's that disaster that drastically alters the way you feel about the game, and about the tournament scene in a whole. Take this example.
You Enter a tournament.
You Lose your first round.
At this point, you're pretty much depressed or just down right angry. The fact is, you spend the money and time to go to this tournament, and you are one step away from being eliminated all together. Stress and anxiety shroud you as you anticipate your next match, and soon you can't really focus. Why did I lose my first match? I don't normally... I thought I was good... what's going on?
With all of this clouding your head, you enter your next match, and lose.
Now you start feeling horrible, like you don't even belong in the competitive scene yet, because you just lost twice, 0-2 at a tournament that won't be happening for another week or so.
These feelings are indiscriminate. It doesn't matter if you're a pro or a n00b, you're not immune to anxiety, stress, depression, etc.
Well, I've created some steps for the people who feel like this when they lose. I feel like these steps will not only help you get farther in tournament, but they will also make you more accepted in the community, as well as a better smasher overall. =]
Unrealistic Goals:
Though everybody would love to go into a tournament and Win, there can only be one real winner. Are you good enough to win a regional? Chances are, no, because there can only be one, which is a small margin to choose from, don't you think? So instead of going to a tournament to win, Go to a tournament to Learn! Redefine Winning. EX: The most recent tournament I went to, I almost beat BOA in a tournament match. Peach Vs marth is Horrid. But I brought it back, and was that close to beating him. It was a good match, amazing match... Everybody was watching, and I got recognition as a prominent player. I already knew this to be true, but now they did too. =] That was my victory. That was my win. I went home happy with the results, and I intend to do better next time. If you set those goals for yourself, you'll find that inching to the top isn't that hard after all.
Calm
When you enter a match, you want your head to be as level as possible. Take a second, breath, and enter the match like you would anywhere. Play your best, and that's all you can do. But above all, always have that smile on your face. You're playing a game that you enjoy I hope, so lets see the tangible representation of that!
Accept losing.
If you lose, I'm sure there are thoughts pulsating your head, because it's never fun to lose. But Don't john, and don't strip your controller and just run off with out shaking the other person's hand, be a good sport. That's step one to clearing the mentality of a loss. Smile, Shake their hand, maybe even compliment them. Don't start saying why you lost or anything like that, because it just shows arrogance, and it gives you that image of an elitist.
----But what I lose to a Random? Or it was a fluke? Or-
If you know that you shouldn't have lost to somebody because you're better for whatever reason, telling everybody that isn't going to do anything, is it? It's not going to change the bracket, nor turn back time, nor make him forfeit the match to you. None of that. So why say it? Actions speak louder than words. Smile and congratulate him on his/her 'good' win. If you are better like you say you are, then that win for them is going to benefit them. Bask in their glory, rather than wallow in your pity. It'll make you feel better experiencing the joy that they are. I mean, wouldn't you be happy if you beat somebody good? As are they, so nurture them. The last thing that they want is you to not like them because they beat you. Just keep your self mentally strong and reserved, and you'll be fine.
Smile!
Give your self a big smile after a game. Haha, I mean, you lost, but that's not the end of the tournament right? You've still got losers. Andnobody's ever made it from the first round of losers to win the whole tournament Mango's proven that you can still succeed if you just push through the obstacles and the mental blocks. And smiling eliminates the mental blocks that would proceed from losing. There isn't much to smile about, but we do it to create the sense of good sportsmanship, as well as a friendly disposition.
Assess yourself:
Why did you lose? Calmly ask yourself this question, and take responsibility for your own faults. Ever think that maybe, just maybe, it's because you just didn't practice enough? Or maybe you're not as good as you thought you might be? Play some friendlies, and get back on track mentally for the next game ahead. =]
And... go for it:
Above all, you just gotta give it your all every game. Don't shortchange yourself because you're mad or depressed, get back into the mentality that you had when you came to the tournament in the beginning. Show the losers bracket that you've got something to prove. Are you known? Then show the world why you are known, by beating the living hell out of the tournament. Are you not ranked? Then prove to these people that you've got what it takes to be considered a threat, and the Losers bracket isn't gonna take you down. If anything, the people in the winners bracket are lucky that they don't have to fight you. Haha, a little funny motivation for people to think about, but you get the idea. =]
This was a bit rushed, but I really hope this opens eyes to people that can't seem to shake that depression off after losing. Go out there and start pwning that losers bracket. =] I'll maybe edit and write more in a bit. Gotta run. Tell me what you think guys. =]
tl;dr?
Just be a happy person to be around. Smile and compliment after losing rather than scowling and moaning. Be happy to be at a tournament, and set small goals for placing. Go out there, and be somebody.
2: "F*cking F*ggots get so Lucky some times."
1 goes to shake 2's hand, but 2 simply pulls his/her controller out of the port and storms off. 2 later is heard talking about the match.
2: "I could beat em, He/she just got lucky. No skill, it was a lucky gimp. That guy/girl's a scrub. So F*cking lucky."
__________________________
1. "Good games man."
2. "Haha, I know. You're too pro! ^__^"
They shake hands, and later play some friendlies. Though 2 is disappointed about his/her loss, he or she is able to cope with the fact that another member of the community rose up in the bracket.
"I believe that there are certain mentalities that occur when and if we lose. And it's those frustrations that hold us back from our potential in a tournament."
-Sky`
Losing like a Winner: The competitive guide to Losing.
Losing is never fun. Nobody says, "Aww man, I can't wait to spend five dollars to get last in a bracket! Awesome!" Nah, that's rarely the case. And when you lose, especially early in the tournament, you feel just... hopeless. Some feel angry, some feel depressed... some feel just empty. It sucks, I've been there, and I'm sure you have too.
But I feel that when and if we choose to feel these feelings, we set ourselves up for disaster. It's that disaster that drastically alters the way you feel about the game, and about the tournament scene in a whole. Take this example.
You Enter a tournament.
You Lose your first round.
At this point, you're pretty much depressed or just down right angry. The fact is, you spend the money and time to go to this tournament, and you are one step away from being eliminated all together. Stress and anxiety shroud you as you anticipate your next match, and soon you can't really focus. Why did I lose my first match? I don't normally... I thought I was good... what's going on?
With all of this clouding your head, you enter your next match, and lose.
Now you start feeling horrible, like you don't even belong in the competitive scene yet, because you just lost twice, 0-2 at a tournament that won't be happening for another week or so.
These feelings are indiscriminate. It doesn't matter if you're a pro or a n00b, you're not immune to anxiety, stress, depression, etc.
Well, I've created some steps for the people who feel like this when they lose. I feel like these steps will not only help you get farther in tournament, but they will also make you more accepted in the community, as well as a better smasher overall. =]
Unrealistic Goals:
Though everybody would love to go into a tournament and Win, there can only be one real winner. Are you good enough to win a regional? Chances are, no, because there can only be one, which is a small margin to choose from, don't you think? So instead of going to a tournament to win, Go to a tournament to Learn! Redefine Winning. EX: The most recent tournament I went to, I almost beat BOA in a tournament match. Peach Vs marth is Horrid. But I brought it back, and was that close to beating him. It was a good match, amazing match... Everybody was watching, and I got recognition as a prominent player. I already knew this to be true, but now they did too. =] That was my victory. That was my win. I went home happy with the results, and I intend to do better next time. If you set those goals for yourself, you'll find that inching to the top isn't that hard after all.
Calm
When you enter a match, you want your head to be as level as possible. Take a second, breath, and enter the match like you would anywhere. Play your best, and that's all you can do. But above all, always have that smile on your face. You're playing a game that you enjoy I hope, so lets see the tangible representation of that!
Accept losing.
If you lose, I'm sure there are thoughts pulsating your head, because it's never fun to lose. But Don't john, and don't strip your controller and just run off with out shaking the other person's hand, be a good sport. That's step one to clearing the mentality of a loss. Smile, Shake their hand, maybe even compliment them. Don't start saying why you lost or anything like that, because it just shows arrogance, and it gives you that image of an elitist.
----But what I lose to a Random? Or it was a fluke? Or-
If you know that you shouldn't have lost to somebody because you're better for whatever reason, telling everybody that isn't going to do anything, is it? It's not going to change the bracket, nor turn back time, nor make him forfeit the match to you. None of that. So why say it? Actions speak louder than words. Smile and congratulate him on his/her 'good' win. If you are better like you say you are, then that win for them is going to benefit them. Bask in their glory, rather than wallow in your pity. It'll make you feel better experiencing the joy that they are. I mean, wouldn't you be happy if you beat somebody good? As are they, so nurture them. The last thing that they want is you to not like them because they beat you. Just keep your self mentally strong and reserved, and you'll be fine.
Smile!
Give your self a big smile after a game. Haha, I mean, you lost, but that's not the end of the tournament right? You've still got losers. And
Assess yourself:
Why did you lose? Calmly ask yourself this question, and take responsibility for your own faults. Ever think that maybe, just maybe, it's because you just didn't practice enough? Or maybe you're not as good as you thought you might be? Play some friendlies, and get back on track mentally for the next game ahead. =]
And... go for it:
Above all, you just gotta give it your all every game. Don't shortchange yourself because you're mad or depressed, get back into the mentality that you had when you came to the tournament in the beginning. Show the losers bracket that you've got something to prove. Are you known? Then show the world why you are known, by beating the living hell out of the tournament. Are you not ranked? Then prove to these people that you've got what it takes to be considered a threat, and the Losers bracket isn't gonna take you down. If anything, the people in the winners bracket are lucky that they don't have to fight you. Haha, a little funny motivation for people to think about, but you get the idea. =]
This was a bit rushed, but I really hope this opens eyes to people that can't seem to shake that depression off after losing. Go out there and start pwning that losers bracket. =] I'll maybe edit and write more in a bit. Gotta run. Tell me what you think guys. =]
tl;dr?
Just be a happy person to be around. Smile and compliment after losing rather than scowling and moaning. Be happy to be at a tournament, and set small goals for placing. Go out there, and be somebody.
