I started looking into my ATA state standings last season because I was stuck in the middle tier and it felt frustrating. Honestly, I wanted to climb up but didn’t know where to begin. So I grabbed my laptop one evening, opened up the ATA site, and just stared at the numbers for hours.
Early Days of Cluelessness
At first, I had no clue what I was doing. I scrolled through the rankings page over and over, trying to figure out why my score was so low. It felt like hitting a wall, you know? One night, I thought, “Maybe I need to just dive in and play more rounds.” So I jumped into a bunch of matches, played like crazy, but my ranking barely moved. I got annoyed because it seemed pointless – all that effort for nothing.
Then I realized I had to do something smarter. I asked around in online forums, lurking like a ghost. People were talking about stuff like reviewing old games and tweaking strategies, but it was all messy advice. I jotted down notes on a piece of paper, trying to make sense of it.
The Actual Practice Phase
I decided to focus on one thing at a time. Step by step, I rewound my past plays:
- First, I spent a week replaying my last ten matches. I watched the recordings over and over, spotting where I messed up – like rushing in too fast or missing easy moves.
- Next, I set small goals for each session, like “win at least 60% of the time today.” It was slow going, and I kept falling back into old habits, like ignoring the clock or getting distracted.
- Finally, I started testing new tricks, like prepping better before each round or taking breaks to avoid burnout.
It wasn’t smooth at all. I remember one evening, my internet cut out during a key match, and I just cursed at the screen. But I kept at it, chipping away bit by bit.
After a couple of months, I noticed my score inching up a bit. Honestly, it took a lot of trial and error, and it felt like pushing a boulder uphill most days. By the end of the season, I had moved up about five spots. Not huge, but enough to feel like I wasn’t wasting my time anymore.
Now, looking back, I wonder if it was worth all that hassle. I mean, I still enjoy the game, but rankings? They’re just numbers at the end of the day. Who cares as long as you’re having fun? Still, I’m kinda proud I didn’t quit. Maybe this season I’ll aim higher, but no promises – life’s too short for stressing over digital points.