Normalizing Nervousness
Share This Resource
IN ACTION
Watch youth sport coaches from around the country put the principles from Play Positive and Positive Coaching Alliance to work with their athletes.
Athletes can get nervous when they are putting their skills to test, and it’s important for coaches to emphasize that these nerves are normal. This IN ACTION video features a coach who is helping a nervous young wrestler. His way of dealing with athletes' nerves is to remind them what they’ve been working on and to specify the skills they can feel confident in before the match. He also encourages them to put the nerves into the match, in hopes it fuels their energy and focus when they have to perform.
Positive Coaching Alliance is proud to have worked with Liberty Mutual Insurance to create this video and other powerful resources.
Related Resources
Video
Watch this coach talk to his players about pre-game nerves, and how to control what they can for success.
Audio
Member of the 1980 Miracle on Ice USA Hockey team Jim Craig encourages youth athletes not to be afraid.
Worksheet
In order to bounce back from mistakes, players should develop a mistake ritual.
Video
Northwesterm University Basketball Coach knows mistakes happen, so he accepts the right kind of mistakes.
Audio
Wilson, former NHL player, discusses how parents and coaches can encourage youth athletes to focus on mastery.
Article
Coaches can use this script to introduce athletes to the concept of the ELM Tree of Mastery.