Are you an athlete that has trouble showing what you trained for in front of judges? Do you find yourself making more mistakes during your big games compared to when you are practicing? Are you able to do it perfectly during training and then as soon as someone is watching it is not the same?

I see this all the time while coaching. It is normal and okay to be a little nervous when someone is watching. I notice this in myself during daily activities like working out or when I have to speak in front of people. I think one thing and it comes out totally different. Oops!

Even though it is okay to feel a little bit nervous, it is not safe or healthy to get so nervous that you can’t even show what you worked for. You did not work so hard to go there and blow it because you are too afraid to show it off! The tricky part is trying to find ways to make showing your skills off a positive experience. I would like to share a few of my tips with you!

1. You train for you! You don’t train as hard as you do for someone else. Obviously in competitive sport we have to show other people because that is the nature of the sport but overall you do this for you! When competing try to remind yourself that this performance is for you. That being said, you want to do it in a way that you would be proud of! That may help take some of the pressure off of the stress of people watching.

2. Remember how much time and effort you put into this performance or big game! You worked so hard for this big day! Be proud it and show it off like you are the best instead of dreading what will happen if you make a mistake. You deserve what you worked for!

3. Remind yourself that making mistakes is okay even in competition! As an athlete you don’t want to make mistakes but you have to remember that everyone makes them every day! If you did not make mistakes you would not be where you are today. Be okay with making mistakes because they are going to happen no matter how you feel about them!

4. Before competition day, write down 5 things that you are amazing at and know you can do well! Read them over and over before you compete! Remember that YOU wrote them and YOU came up with those answers! That already shows that you are able to think positive and that you believe in yourself!

5. Take it easy the day before competition! I don’t mean stay at home and watch TV all day being lazy because that is not what your body is used to. That would just shock your body and be no good for anyone the next day. I just mean try not to go rock climbing or run a marathon the day before you compete. Rest is important! For your mind and your body!

6. Last but not least stay focused on you! Make sure you commit to yourself and focus on you the day of competition! What your friends are doing or what your brothers or sisters are fighting about is not important at that time! Maybe tomorrow they will be but today is for you! It is okay to be a little selfish on your big day!

This is all I have for now but I hope this can help you relax a little bit before your competitions! I hope you will be able to feel more proud of yourself than stressed out when showing what you trained for!

Many of my brain games are great for this type of thing! Feel free to try them and see if they bring positivity to your life as an athlete! Click the link below to check them out. There will be more to come soon!