As a mental performance coach for athletes, I work with local talent that spans age, sport and skill level. Yet, despite the wide range of variations between clients, there is still one mindset-related struggle that I see more than any other: performance anxiety.
How can that be? One of the most common things we tell athletes is, “just go out there and have fun.” So why is there so much stress, worry, and fear? The answer comes down to the overall belief system that we teach our athletes. That is, the belief that winning is the most important part.
Now I am certainly not saying that we shouldn’t care about winning. That’s the fun part! The early season hope that this year we might get the ring. This season we might go to the championships. Not only is the prospect exciting, it’s deeply motivating. So, what am I saying?
I’m saying that through the words and actions of schools, coaches, parents, and the participants that came before, athletes have learned that the outcome of the game is what determines their value. And how did we teach that? To name just a few…
- By giving extra conditioning after a loss
- Firing coaches after a losing season(s)
- Not attending games if we suspect the team we’re supporting will lose
- Rewarding our athlete with prizes and gifts after a win
- Using simple phrases such as “you’ll get it next time” and “hopefully we don’t play them in the tournament”
The problem with teaching athletes that winning is the most important aspect of sport, even if we’re doing it unintentionally, is that the outcome is not within their control. Even when they perform their absolute best, they still can’t control their teammates, their opponents, the play calling, the officials, the weather, or anything else that could influence the outcome of a game.
To put it simply: we teach athletes that they can only be seen at valuable, capable, and successful if they’re able to achieve something that is only slightly within their control. In a system like that who wouldn’t have anxiety?
So how do we shift this mindset and instill a new belief system? By shifting emphasis away from the outcome and onto the characteristics that athletes display. Namely such characteristics as effort, selflessness, communication, and positive attitude. Instead of saying “you’ll get it next time,” replace it with “your effort was incredible today” or “I’m really proud of how you were cheering for your teammates.” When these messages are given on a consistent basis, athletes will eventually learn that these are the things that are actually the most important. And guess what? They are fully within their control. And when an athlete knows that the most important part of a game is something they can control they experience calm, confidence, and higher levels of performance.
Amanda Clements is a former DI gymnast and current owner of Beyond the Game, LLC. Her client list includes UMBC Women’s Lacrosse, the DC Divas, and the Washington Redskins. Further information regarding her services can be found at: www.btgcoach.com
