Game Day Nerves

[Oxxxx]

I always get really tense before a game and get nerves no matter what I seem to do. My last game for freshman year I performed really poor felling really heavy and slow. Usually Am able to perform but if his happens again what can I do to prevent it?

[etet1919]

I always get really tense before a game and get nerves no matter what I seem to do. My last game for freshman year I performed really poor felling really heavy and slow. Usually Am able to perform but if his happens again what can I do to prevent it?

I can relate. I was a former competitive gymnast as a kid. And I would do very well in practice. But, and especially when I was "inexperienced" in meets, I would have usually **** up in competition due to performance anxiety...little or even "big" mistakes I never would have done in practice. So, I would have private lessons with one of my coaches once a week, usually....and she did help me work on my "weaknesses" AND my confidence big time. She didn't take any **** from me....she knew I was capable of more and forced me to overcome my fears on some events....

My point is your coach should know how you feel (have you told him?) and be able to address any "issue" or pinpoint any "weaknesses" that can be improved on.....By the way, performance anxiety AND anticipatory anxiety is pretty common among athletes of all levels, it just depends to what degree you "suffer" from the effects of putting pressure on yourself.....I'm not saying you are, but if you've been experiencing panic attacks, that is more on the extreme level of "performance anxiety." And you may need to tell your parents and/or your coach so it CAN be fixed!!! If the nerves are not that "extreme," than remember that having some good adrenaline running through your veins can HELP your performance on many levels....You just have to either be able to "contain" those feelings before games or learn some positive cognitive (thinking) behavior techniques that are easy to learn and with more practice, will be able to apply more effectively.....Tell your coach!!! Good luck!!

[sowilson]

It's pretty normal. Happens in sports, music, public speaking. A bit of "stage fright" is to be expected and is healthy. To combat it, and poor performance, you need to be confident. Confidence you'll gain from practice and becoming "smarter" in your sport. Another thing to look at is analyze what is it in your performance that you're doing poorly. If you can, video tape and analyze the tape. Frequently it can be due to a lack of consistency. You might be doing something different in a game or event than you're doing in practice or that your practice isn't effective in one area.