“I remember years ago Lee telling us he played netplay with his shoes on to match tournament conditions and I’m 90% sure he was fucking with us but we were all scrubs so we were sitting our ass down and lacing up”
Swish (@Swishless) on Twitter
The same Lee (aka Phade) responsible for mass indoor shoe-wearing hysteria gave me some interesting words of wisdom during a late-night melee conversation when I was brand new to Melee: “You’re playing the same game, whether on the friendlies set up in the corner or the top 8 stage at Genesis.”
This statement is true at its core, but the environment and conditions that surround you while playing the game, especially in tournaments, can significantly impact your performance and mental state. Many players suffer from inconsistencies in their physical and psychological condition outside of the game that drastically affect their tournament play. If you have actively competed in Melee for any length of time, I’m sure you have experienced this yourself – The feeling of ‘just playing bad’ or not being able to warm up or lock in.
Many players combat this with a tournament routine or ritual. Think of Jmook’s mid-tourney meditation habit, for example. It can be an effective strategy to attempt to recreate or at least encourage an internal and external environment that helps enable your peak form. I also follow my own personal routine and commandments on bracket days:
- No alcohol (or drugs) the day/night before bracket – This one is self-explanatory.
- No warming up between sets – I tend to overthink and psych myself out when attempting to prepare for my opponent; also, I play Jigglypuff, LOL.
- No set meals during my tournament run – I play significantly worse when I remove myself from the tournament environment, so I will aim to have some nutritious snacks to eat throughout the day instead and eat a full meal before the event and after the tournament concludes. My underlying sense of adrenaline during bracket also suppresses my appetite anyway.
- No talking about my tournament run while I’m still competing – I dislike discussing my bracket while I’m playing in it, as I want to commit to focusing on one set at a time. I also avoid the added pressure of hearing the expectations of others regarding my upcoming sets or bracket path, good or bad.
- Use a tag that means something to me – I often put a tag on my character with some placid or superficial importance. If I use a new tag, I will ‘test’ it early in the bracket to see if it’s ‘helping’ (though this is completely superstitious). If you have seen me play, you may have noticed tags such as ‘DMN1’ (Demon1 – Valorant 2023 Champions MVP), ‘ANYA’ (the pink-haired girl from Spy x Family), ‘SMTH’ (Something, my favourite player on Paper Rex), or ‘NIKO’ (my first name).
Following these rules helps me stay grounded and focused, and doing so consistently can replicate the conditions necessary to play at my best. Every player should approach this idea differently, but it’s a good exercise to find things that can ease your nerves and help you play confidently.
Maybe sticking your Converse on to play friendlies is a bit far-fetched, but it wouldn’t surprise me if players out there are slipping off their footwear at the local to get just that bit closer to their best Melee.
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