Mental Game - How Athlete Learned to Deal with Pressure

Pressure can get to any athlete, that is, if the athlete lets it happen. Pressure is the perception of threat by the athlete. Worrying about results, game conditions, and the opposing team can increase the sense of pressure experienced by athletes.

But these situations or conditions are only triggers for pressure. How athletes view these trigger are what leads to pressure in sports. When pressure becomes excessive, athletes either freeze up in competition or overthink their next action.

Excessive pressure can cause you to lose focus on what really matters, which is focusing on the process or what you need to do in the present to play optimally. Focusing on what makes you feel pressure tends to turn performance into a life-or-death proposition.

There is a myriad of negative things to worry about for many athletes in sports and most are outside of your direct control. When you focus on the “triggers for worry” the pressure becomes unbearable.

Tips for overcoming pressure:

Understand that pressure is something you create for yourself, not the situation you are in when competing.

What's under your direct control in competition? Be specific and consider elements of effort, the process of the performing an action, mental focus and your reactions to circumstances during competition.

Focus on what you can control for your role, not the outcome that leads you to worry and feel pressure.

If you start to focus on your triggers for pressure, stop and remind yourself to focus on your routine and what you can control. You can't control the outcome, so no need to fret about it.