Breaking Slumps
Posted on: Aug 05, 2013 by Web Admin
Hey guys, Kevin here. It has definitely been a rough last 3 weeks for me rodeoin. There isn't really any other way to spin it, I've missed more steers in the team roping in two weeks then I have the whole rest of the summer, and I can't seem to put a calf roping run together to save my life and its very frustrating. Coming off a year where I was the Reserve Champion Tie Down Roper in the NRA to being on the verge of not making the finals has made me begin to question some things. I've just been telling myself that the next rodeo can change everything, just win the next one, but is that really the way to go about it?
I have noticed that I have really started to push things as if I'm trying to make up the whole summer in one nod of the head. But because of this approach things have started to snowball and I am moving away from the fundamental practices that have helped me to win in the past. So how do you get out of a slump?? I've realized that a roper has to go back to the basics and let things come back together to raise your confidence.
A confident roper thinks they can win first every time they compete, but you have to pair that confidence with smart decision making to get back into the win column. Your not going to win first every time but you can place on a bad calf if you are fundamentally strong, if you set your run up and give yourself and your horse the best chance to be able to perform. The biggest thing is to give yourself a chance to perform. I know that I can make up time on the ground and I can win if I am disciplined to give myself a chance. Breaking the barrier or taking a dumb quick throw and missing is not giving myself a chance to win. Now I'm not saying that if you have a good high percentage quick shot not to take it. You always want to take advantage of your opportunities but don't force a throw trying to make an opporunity.
Slumps can be broken by giving yourself a chance to perform. You have to be mentally strong enough to not take that opportunity away from yourself. And remember, you can never let the hights be too high or the lows be too low!