Anxiety
Managing the stress around competition rather than pretending it can be eliminated, and building the coping skills to carry it.
Anxiety appears in many forms in sport, or during an important exam. The term “butterflies” comes to mind as athletes prepare for competition. The strategies often used to enhance self-efficacy and self-talk are instruction drills, confidence building, rewarding statements and verbal persuasion. But how does one relax prior to competition?
At VRC I believe in relaxation and in visualizing the competition before it happens. At times performance anxiety arrives before competition. While I may not be able to eliminate all stress for an athlete, I help manage that stress in a joint effort with them, developing coping skills throughout the process. I find out what the stressor means to the individual, including the arousal of mind and body in response to the demands made on the athlete by participation and by their daily routine. I also explore the benefits of good stress for the athlete.
Athletic scenario: reducing anxiety
During a competitive tennis match, at changeover, my client began to shake after losing a close set in which she had been up two breaks. She took a time out, spoke with her coach, and from my observation in the stands appeared nervous and afraid to move on. She was able to get through and win the match.
This happened in a few matches during the year, so through intervention with applied sports psychology techniques I was able to get her to relax using her key cue phrases, and to remind her of the goals she had set. She wanted to improve on her previous matches and tournaments, and she was doing just that. She was able to complete matches by soothing and calming her nerves, practising the techniques and incorporating them into her workout sessions prior to competition.
Become that inspiring story
Sessions are by appointment, in person in Phoenix or virtually from anywhere. Start with a conversation about what you are working towards.