Varsity Letter: Overcoming Nerves

The following column was published in Wootton’s Common Sense newspaper.

Some things never go away. Take nerves, a sensation that every athlete knows and deals with regularly. After three years of running for the varsity cross country and track teams, I thought I would have grown impervious to pre-race nerves. I remember the half-hour car rides to my eighth grade track meets, when I wanted to sink into the car’s passenger seat Get Out-style, as a thing of the past, but the pressure and hype of my competitions now, from early season time trials to state championships in front of thousands of spectators, can still induce panics in my head as I toe the starting line. From rec leagues to the pros and across all sports, nerves are as natural as they are inconvenient and stressful.

Nerves can cause crippling doubt and fear to fester and prevent an athlete from reaching peak performance. I’ve had days when I filled with dread for the evening’s meet, wishing I could be doing anything else rather than submit to the pressure cooker of performance. The fear of failure, especially in a high-magnitude moment, can be paralyzing and sap the fun from sport.

It’s important to remember that while nerves will always be there, how one handles nerves can make a huge difference. From my experience as an athlete, these are the best ways to cope with nerves and use them to elevate, not hinder, performance.

• Know what is at stake

Striking the delicate balance between motivation and relaxation can be difficult before competition, affecting everything from warm-up routine to pre-game music. Too much motivation can heighten the stress on the event, while relaxing can cause one to ease up on the pedal. But in all cases, keeping the event in perspective is a crucial and comforting part of reaching peak performance. The scoreboard may have great implications for the playoffs, but when the final buzzer sounds, the more important things, such as the support of family and friends and the opportunity, will be constant no matter the score.

• Settle in and relax through competition

Nerves can petrify an athlete before they start their game or competition, but can also affect their in-game performance. Smoothing the transition between pre-competition and the competition itself is essential, and one approach I’ve adopted is settling into a comfort zone once in competition and taking note of the little victories to provide positive encouragement. For example, during a race I’ll make a goal to be at a certain place or time at a certain point. Reaching this objective helps to silence the natural doubt and keep my focus on doing my best.

• Think, and act, positively

I’ve been surprised by how many elite, All-State athletes I’ve overheard before races express doubt or give excuses why they won’t succeed in response to the nerves they feel and the possibility of failure. In addition to disparaging thoughts, athletes can use body language to express nervousness or dread. However, this negative self-talk destroys the confidence needed to succeed in sport and prevents an athlete from reaching their potential. By thinking and acting in a way that anticipates success and uses positive reinforcement, success is more likely, even if you need to pretend. As my coach would say, fake it ‘till you make it.

Do nerves ever completely go away? No, they probably won’t, and they shouldn’t. Feeling pressure before a competition is just part of being, in the words of Theodore Roosevelt, a man in the arena. Instead, learn to manage nerves and you will be able to use them to your advantage.