MENTAL EDGE NEWS

We've all heard the horror stories, sleepless nights, loss of appetite, vomiting in the locker room, ulcers and even nervous breakdowns. Being an athlete means joining those who have fought the demons of competition and its demands since the dawn of the sports. Psychologists use the terms arousal and anxiety but it's more commonly known in athletic circles as jitters, butterflies, or just plain nerves. In this installment I'd like to shed some light on this physical and psychological phenomenon that is as familiar to athletes as sweat.

First, it is important to understand having a feeling of arousal is actually a good thing. It is a signal to your body that you care about the upcoming events. In fact, when it comes to performing at or near peak it is far better to experience a level of arousal than to be emotionally flat. So to spend time and energy working to eliminate arousal prior to competition is actually counterproductive.

Arousal vs. Nerves
Though it may be difficult to recognize there is a slight difference between arousal and nerves. The sensation you feel prior to competition comes from the sum of what you are thinking about most. Therefore what you think about will determine the type of feeling you will have prior to competition. To help you separate a helpful dose of arousal that leads to peak performance from the harmful overwhelmed feeling of nervousness that stifles performance, let's take a look at the type of thinking that would generate each feeling.

Arousal/ Helpful                       Nerves/ Harmful
Look forward to competing       I hope I don't make a mistake
Excited to display skill               Our opponent is good & I don't feel ready
Anticipating playing well           Am I good enough?

The majority of athletes who report having an overwhelming feeling of nervousness before and during games do so because their thoughts become consumed with trying to predict what may happen once they begin play. Will I be ready? Will I play well? Who is watching? I hope I don't make a mistake. In addition to feeling nervous, they will also unintentionally be sending negative messages to their body. For example, if you think to yourself "I hope I don't make a mistake", more than likely the image you see in your head when you say that is one of you making a mistake. Although your intentions are good your body is going to follow and pay attention to the image rather than the intention. Thus creating both a nervous feeling and a troubling message for your body to follow.

So how do you put yourself in a position to experience the type of arousal that actually sets you up for peak performances? First and foremost pay attention to what you are thinking about prior to competition. If you feel nervous because you've been thinking about failing, then change it. Focus on a part of your game you are confident in and think about how that part will help you play well. In addition to how you think, don't forget to tap into some of the pillars of mental toughness.

Pre-Game Nerves Checklist
Have a routine you can trust: the regular season should help you refine and develop your routine so regardless of importance of game you have comfort in consistent preparation.
Develop quality practice habits: through quality practice habits the confidence in your ability to execute under pressure will increase.
Focus on what you control: much of the mental energy athletes waste is by thinking about events they have no control over. Focus on what you can do and what you control.

By paying close attention to the type of thoughts you have prior to competition and developing the type of habits included on the checklist, you will consistently find yourself amongst the breed of athletes anxiously awaiting the opportunity to display their skill and compete!

Justin

For more information on this topic or to schedule a complimentary 30-minute telephone consultation with Justin, please call Dawn today at 763 439 5246.