2 Techniques for Keeping Momentum During a Timeout

Your team is going on a run! 

And then the other team calls a timeout, trying to break your momentum. Stay composed. Just because your team is winning (or now has the momentum) does not mean anything. Use your emotions, don’t let your emotions use you. 

The last thing you want to do is kill your own team’s momentum.

1) No timeout at all

Once the players have come into the huddle, have them cheer loudly, and immediately send them back onto the court.

Not speaking at all is sometimes better than saying too much. 

    • “Keep going.”
    • “Come out strong.”
    • “You know what to do.”
    • “The game is yours if you want it.”

The goals of not taking a timeout at all are to:

    1. not distract our team,
    2. have our players keep the same energy as before the timeout,
    3. distract the other team’s focus,
    4. speed up the ref’s timing of the timeout, and
    5. intimidate the other team by being prepared and ready to serve right away

2) Square breathing

Another timeout technique to maintain a team’s momentum during an unwanted timeout is to lead the players through a breathing exercise.

Once the players have come into the huddle, have the players close their eyes and focus on their breathing while you give them a consistent four-count:

    • 4 seconds inhale, 4 seconds hold, 4 seconds exhale, 4 seconds hold

The benefits of square breathing during a timeout:

    1. prevents overthinking,
    2. brings players into the present moment,
    3. releases pent up carbon dioxide in their lungs due to shallow breathing during stressful moments,
    4. lowers their cortisol levels and calms their sympathetic nervous system,
    5. mentally and emotionally connects the players together

Teams that breathe together, win together.