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Match play, job interviews…test taking, first dates, and other “nervous” “big day” situations.
Here’s an analogy for you.
Performing under the pressure of a result, is a skill that must be practiced.
I’m sure you’ve all seen the player who looks incredible in practice but who just can’t swing freely in the match and looses to opponents whom “look” inferior.
Perhaps you were one of those players… I know I was and still at times am.
Being able to handle your emotions in tournament play is a skill that needs to be practiced.
The only way to practice handling nerves in a match is to put yourself in that situation frequently before your “big day”.
I remember once when I was interviewing for jobs prior to starting my coaching career. The nerves were always the worst on that first interview after not having done an interview in a while. Sweaty palms/ underarms, butterflies in the stomach and general anxiety could paralyze me.
As I did more interviews though, the “nervous feelings” went away.
However, after a long break of steady employment, that same skill to ,“stay cool under fire” needed to be worked on again. You could use the analogies of job interviews, first dates, Exams all interchangeably here.
In essence, just like any other skills “if you don’t use it you’ll lose it”
I’m bringing this up because one of my most skilled junior players is now breaking thru because of finally getting enough practice at “swinging thru the nerves” and it’s a beautiful thing to watch.
Where he would “push” before… he now goes for the winner and because he had the technique all along it’s a great shot.
The only real difference lately has been in the increase in match play (technique was emphasized heavily for the last years) and making sure that he doesn’t push during matches. I always de-emphasise wins and losses, it’s always about what did you do that you were proud of under pressure.
Realize though the increasing match play before excellent technique is established, can do disastrous and possibly irreversible damage to a players game.
More on this in the “high performance” forum.
Does anyone have a similar story or perhaps another view on this?
Here’s an analogy for you.
Performing under the pressure of a result, is a skill that must be practiced.
I’m sure you’ve all seen the player who looks incredible in practice but who just can’t swing freely in the match and looses to opponents whom “look” inferior.
Perhaps you were one of those players… I know I was and still at times am.
Being able to handle your emotions in tournament play is a skill that needs to be practiced.
The only way to practice handling nerves in a match is to put yourself in that situation frequently before your “big day”.
I remember once when I was interviewing for jobs prior to starting my coaching career. The nerves were always the worst on that first interview after not having done an interview in a while. Sweaty palms/ underarms, butterflies in the stomach and general anxiety could paralyze me.
As I did more interviews though, the “nervous feelings” went away.
However, after a long break of steady employment, that same skill to ,“stay cool under fire” needed to be worked on again. You could use the analogies of job interviews, first dates, Exams all interchangeably here.
In essence, just like any other skills “if you don’t use it you’ll lose it”
I’m bringing this up because one of my most skilled junior players is now breaking thru because of finally getting enough practice at “swinging thru the nerves” and it’s a beautiful thing to watch.
Where he would “push” before… he now goes for the winner and because he had the technique all along it’s a great shot.
The only real difference lately has been in the increase in match play (technique was emphasized heavily for the last years) and making sure that he doesn’t push during matches. I always de-emphasise wins and losses, it’s always about what did you do that you were proud of under pressure.
Realize though the increasing match play before excellent technique is established, can do disastrous and possibly irreversible damage to a players game.
More on this in the “high performance” forum.
Does anyone have a similar story or perhaps another view on this?
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