Learning to deal with performance anxiety is essential for an athlete
As is often said, it is the little things that can often prove to be the difference between success and failure for an athlete. The undoubted talent may have been complemented by the perfect training schedule and preparation, yet when it comes to the big day, the athlete is unable to produce their best. At times it can appear almost inexplicable as to why the combination of all these factors didn’t result in the success that was anticipated, and in some cases the reason comes down to the question of anxiety. We are all aware of stories of an athlete who looks to be in perfect condition in training but appears out of sorts when it comes to competition. We have also seen athletes getting themselves into a winning position, whether that is in golf, tennis or on the track, only to ‘choke’ at the crucial moment and see their chance of glory disappear.
What is Performance Anxiety?
This issue has been referred to as ‘performance anxiety’ where stress results in a decrease in athletic performance. This can be due to the fact that the athlete is performing in front of a crowd or that they have built up very high expectations of themselves ahead of competition. In Anxiety Within Sport Catherine McCanny tells us that
The medical definition of anxiety describes it as a state consisting of psychological and physical symptoms brought about by a sense of apprehension of a perceived threat
She points out that this is known as ‘state anxiety’ as it refers to temporary feelings of anxiety in a particular situation. It is differentiated from a fear or phobia (such as spiders or heights) about something specific, as in many cases athletes are anxious about something but unable to identify it exactly. The reality is that stress and anxiety affect all athletes. They may have concerns over injuries, how their training schedule is progressing, sleep, diet and general lifestyle issues. There is a particular risk of anxiety coming up to competition and under the pressure of competing, and all this anxiety undoubtedly has an adverse effect on performance. Of course, a little bit of nervous energy can be a good thing as if an athlete is too relaxed it can also have negative consequences, and this idea of optimum arousal is highlighted by Dresdin Archibald in Techniques for Controlling Competition Anxiety
There is a fine line between anxiety and arousal with regard to emotional states when facing competition. Too low and the lifter will not be able to give enough ‘oomph’ to the bar. Too high and things spin out of control
Dealing with the issue
However, as anxiety is an inescapable part of being an athlete and as it is almost impossible to eradicate it completely, the key is how the individual actually deals with it. One of the main areas where stress can manifest itself coming up to competition is its adverse effect on sleep. As a result, athletes need to find techniques to allow them to get proper sleep. Dresdin suggests different methods to control this such as:-
- Mind relaxation techniques where the athlete actively relaxes their body and mind and concentrates on tranquil thoughts to help sleep.
- Massage is something that can help reduce anxiety and works well on an ongoing basis as well as before competition.
- Thought redirection is another approach that helps reduce anxiety by taking your focus off the issue by thinking of something else. This can be something as straightforward as reading a book, watching a film or listening to music.
- Avoid over-thinking about the event: for some people it might be advisable to avoid talking to fellow competitors or colleagues about the competition. He points out that athletes who share a car to a meeting will always talk about their training or the event and for some this can lead to anxiety.
Anxiety increases ahead of competition
It is normal that an athlete will experience higher levels of stress coming up to competition and during the event itself, and once again it is important to be able to deal with this as it can be critical to your chances of success.
In How to Overcome Sports Performance Anxiety Kristi Pikiewicz provides the following advice on how to reduce performance anxiety before the event
- Recognize that pre-competition jitters are normal. Accept, rather than fight, the nervous energy you feel. That adrenaline rush you feel is normal and it is part of your body’s natural preparation for the competition.
- Prepare both mentally and physically. Arrive at the event with plenty of time so you aren’t rushed, which only increases your stress. Get a thorough warm-up. Do some easy stretching. Know the course/venue. Dress for conditions.
- Visualize. Allow a few minutes to practice visualization. During this time, you mentally rehearse, showing yourself doing everything right. Breathe easy, close your eyes and use mental imagery to visualize yourself performing well.
- Focus on the task at hand rather than the outcome. Stay present in the moment and avoid thinking too far into the event or thinking about the finish.
- Force a smile. If you are struggling with negative thoughts and can’t break out of the cycle, simply force yourself to smile, even if only for a few seconds.
- Race like you don’t care about the outcome. If you begin to race like you don’t care about the outcome, you may relax and enjoy the event for what it is
Another very interesting approach that is now being put forward is highlighted in research conducted by Juregen Beckmann, Peter Gröpel, and Felix Ehrlenspiel at the University of Munich which suggests that clenching the fist of your non-dominant hand during high pressure moments help avoid choking under stress. The study entitled Preventing Motor Skill Failure Through Hemisphere-Specific Priming: Cases From Choking Under Pressure, reveals that the right side of the brain controls the left side of the body.
Increasing activation in the right hemisphere decreases activation in the left hemisphere
according to Beckmann, whose study concludes that choking under pressure seems to be caused by a dominant activation in the left hemisphere, which controls key areas of the brain that help us psych ourselves out when under the gun. In conclusion, Dresdin offers the following advice on dealing with anxiety
Novice or Olympian, everyone has an ‘anxiety level’. The trick is to have your anxiety threshold set as high as possible. The higher it is, the less anxiety will affect performance
About Metrifit
Monitoring stress and anxiety levels daily is important for both athletes and coaching staff. Having ‘data’ to back up your instincts or help you to recognize patterns and triggers is invaluable. Given the additional stress levels due to the current global situation, day to day lifestyle stress has even more of an influence on athletic performance and overall well-being. Educating and empowering athletes to improve their lifestyle can pay huge dividends on the playing field. Metrifit’s Lifestyle Profiling is akin to a ‘health check’ for your team. It provides invaluable insight into the well-being of your team with clear visuals that help you make informed decisions to prepare your athletes for optimal performance.
To find out more about our Metrifit Ready to Perform product or our new lifestyle profiling contact us at .
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References
Anxiety within sport by Catherine McCanny
How to Overcome Sports Performance Anxiety by Kristi Pikiewicz Ph.D.
Simple Tip May Ease Athletes’ Performance Anxiety by Denise Mann
Techniques for Controlling Competition Anxiety by Dresdin Archibald
7 Ways to Cope with the Emotional Stress of an Injury | www.verywell.com