| Intimidation is a massive mental barrier for | | | | athletes who are just as skilled. |
| many athletes. It often happens when you | | | | |
| compare yourself to your opponent's skills | | | | -Comparing yourself to other athletes who you |
| before competition. Many athletes worry about | | | | think are better. |
| the skill level of their opponents and then | | | | |
| feel inferior, for example. | | | | -Worry about competing against a *ranked* or |
| | | | well-known athlete. |
| What do you think about when you see the word | | | | |
| intimidation? Do you think about feeling | | | | -Getting caught up in the hoopla or |
| intimidated by an opponent or do you see | | | | importance of a game. |
| yourself as the intimidator? | | | | |
| | | | Confident and composed athletes do not |
| Most intimidation in sports comes from your | | | | intimidate themselves. Confident athletes, |
| own thought process, which I call | | | | who are in control of their emotions, love |
| *self-intimidation*. Some athletes try to | | | | the challenge of testing their skills against |
| intimidate others intentionally because they | | | | others athletes. The bigger and better the |
| think it gives them a mental edge, or feel | | | | challenge, the more enjoyment they gain from |
| they need to do this to win. However, most | | | | the competition. |
| intimidation comes from athletes who psych | | | | |
| themselves out - all on their own. | | | | Many athletes are not even aware that they |
| | | | intimidate themselves because doubt can be |
| They psych themselves out because of negative | | | | very subtle such as, "Can I beat this athlete |
| thoughts or fears, which then turn into | | | | who has more wins than me? " |
| mental gremlins. Self-intimidation is what | | | | |
| you bring on yourself because you worry too | | | | Your first task in overcoming intimidation is |
| much about your competition or the team you | | | | to be very honest with yourself, and |
| are about to play. | | | | recognize those times when you are psyching |
| | | | yourself out of the competition before you |
| One student I coach, for example, gets | | | | even start! |
| intimidated by the ranking of his opponent. | | | | |
| If his competitor has a high ranking, he | | | | Look for signs such as: |
| begins to doubt his ability to win the match. | | | | |
| And then he plays tight and is afraid he will | | | | -You give too much energy to your competition |
| lose the match. | | | | during pregame. |
| | | | |
| Self-intimidation is the most common type of | | | | -You have doubts about playing well against a |
| intimidation in sports and the hardest | | | | certain competitor or team. |
| intimidation to overcome. You can easily | | | | |
| ignore what others might say to you to yank | | | | -You are in awe of the situation or hoopla of |
| you out of the zone, but you cannot ignore | | | | the competitive environment. |
| your own doubts or feelings of inferiority! | | | | |
| | | | -You feel inferior to the competition and |
| Self-intimidation can come in many forms such | | | | make comparisons to others. |
| as: | | | | |
| | | | Once you are aware that you are psyching |
| -Feeling pressure to perform your best or | | | | yourself out with self-intimidation, you can |
| win. | | | | move forward to improve your self-composure |
| | | | and poise. |
| -Worry about performing against other | | | | |