Nerves

The great thing about having assistant coaches that have gone through our program is their ability to relate to the team.  We were having a tough practice and in discussing the practice came up the topic of first league match.  I sometimes forget the nervousness and excitement that the young athletes get from their first regulation match.

It is something a lot of the athletes have been dreaming about for a long time.  They can officially say they played CIS.  This match is important to them.  The coaches were talking about how nervous they were for their first match.  Our first match ever was against Regina.  Thinking back I was really nervous to coach my first match.  The excitement around a CIS match is great.  They felt the athletes were looking ahead of the practice and start to think about the match.

Nerves are an interesting thing. Physiologically we get butterflies, sweaty palms, dry mouth and some will even get an upset stomach or shaky hands.  People who are excited react in the same way physiologically.  The difference between the two is our perception of the situation.  Our brain is amazing thing it is taught to react to cues that we have come across.  WE do have a choice in how we decide whether we are nervous and scared, or nervous and excited.

Controlling nerves have been researched and studied a lot. Some of the main recommendations are;

a.       Prepare well.  The more you understand the game plan and your teams systems the more confident you are in your ability to perform when the opportunity arrises. Practice hard and this will also aid to your confidence.  Coaches cliché is always practice like you want to perform in the match.

b.      Know the audience, most people don’t want to see people fail.  The opposition fans may heckle and try to get players off track, but realistically they expect athletes to perform.  The home fans are really pulling for their team.  When young athlete get a chance to go in they have the entire crowd behind them.  

c.       Often as athletes we project our worst fears on the match.  “I am going to struggle infront of all my family and friends” Athletes need to rationalize their fears or distractions.  Write them down and look at them objectively.  With some of the athletes we talk about writing their distractions and fears in a book.  Then if they crop up into their head during the match they can say “I closed the book on them for now”

d.      Positive self talk and relaxation is important.  Our brain often tries to lead us down a negative path.  Here is a good article I have found.  http://onforb.es/VsEVyD it discusses all the different brain trick we have.

e.      Last one eat a banana, it helps with the nerves.