What Does it Mean to Stack Wins in Sports?
Stacking wins refers to consistently focusing on winning one game at a time. In sports, many athletes fall prey to looking too far ahead or riding the waves of emotion.
For example, when you win a couple of games, you are on a high and believe the wins will keep coming, irrespective of what you do. When this occurs, you may pay less attention to the primary reason for those wins: your preparation.
Stacking wins and consistent performance are impossible when you lack attention to detail, game planning, and effort. Stacking wins is a process. It’s building momentum and confidence over time, due to your preparation and effort.
Stacking wins is not necessarily putting together a winning streak; It’s about creating a positive feedback loop where each success builds on the last, leading to greater overall performance and consistency.
Stacking wins and consistently performing at a high level requires a combination of physical readiness, mental preparation, goal pursuit, game planning, and disciplined routines.
How do you stack wins in sports?
Remember, stacking wins is an active process. The elements that contribute to stacking wins are:
- Consistency during Practice – Practice should be approached with high effort and focus. You should ask yourself each session, “What do I need to do during this practice to perform my best in the next game or competition?”
- Consistency in your Preparation – Preparation should never be lax or haphazard. You should prepare with purpose. In other words, “What can I do now that best prepares me mentally and physically for tomorrow?”
- Positive Work Habits – Your habits show up in pressure situations or under stress. The question then is, “What habits can I develop to perform at my peak during the heat of competition.
These mental aspects of performance improve performance and consistency, which help you stack wins.
Take, for example, the 2024 Atlanta Hawks. The Hawks advanced to the semifinals of the NBA Cup with a 108-100 victory over the New York Knicks.
The victory was Atlanta’s seventh win out of eight games. While winning the midseason NBA Cup is a significant accomplishment, the long-range objective for the Hawks is making the playoffs, which they failed to do in the previous year.
Currently in 7th place in the Eastern Conference, the Hawks know that stacking wins is the key to achieving their seasonal goal. Atlanta veteran Trae Young has preached the importance of focusing on the process to his teammates throughout the season.
YOUNG: “I know we have a really young team… It’s just been great, to be honest with you, as you just want to keep stacking wins, and as a young team, when you win a few games, it’s easy to look ahead and be worried about the next opponent or get to high whenever you beat a really good team.”
Stacking wins in sports is about fostering a disciplined and strategic approach to performance. It’s not just accumulating victories but a commitment to preparation, focus, and developing positive habits that translate into peak performance.
Stacking wins is the key to long-term success and sustained excellence for all athletes.
Commit to consistency in practice, preparation, and building habits. To maintain your focus on the process, use the phrase “Stack Wins.”
The process is what matters most.
Related Sports Psychology Article
- Mind Over Matter: Crafting a Winning Mental Game for Upset Victories
- Lessons from Mahomes Winning Mindset
- Jimmy Walker’s Winning Mindset at PGA
The Relaxed Athlete (Digital Download)
“The Relaxed Athlete” audio and workbook program teaches you mental strategies to develop a focused and confident pregame routine for a poised and relaxed mindset. Learn how to get your mind right by overcoming pregame anxiety and worry.
“By far, The Confident Athlete Series is the most powerful tool I’ve used to perform my best. The simple and easy to use program has helped me take my game to the next level.”
~Shaun Burrell, professional surfer