Trembling, tremors, unsteadiness, body getting weak, pounding heart and sweating, these are just some of the symptoms that an athlete can feel when they are experiencing anxiety in sports.
We all know how this can affect their focus and concentration during the competition causing them to lack confidence and lose the game.
In this video Raven will discuss how an athlete can stay positive to overcome anxiety in sports performance.
This is Part 2 of the interview series with Raven Magwood, a teenage author, motivational speaker, and TV talk show host. She is the author of the book, “On to Victory! The Winning Edge”, “Double-Sided” and “The 7 Practices of Exceptional Student Athletes”
I would be awesome in practice then I would shake and I would throw up before competitions, because I got so nervous.
That is when I learned positive self-talk and taking those deep breathes saying, “Raven calm down.”
I would visualize myself in practice and say, “This is just like practice. You can do this. I can do this.”
I would tell that to myself over and over again, taking deep breaths saying, “I can do this.” Deep breath, “I can do this.”
Now I have a saying that I tell all my athletes and students to repeat it to themselves,
“I am a ten. I walk like a ten. I talk like a ten.I get what I want, when I want it, because I always do what I ought to do, when I ought to do it. I am healthy, I am wealthy, I am smart, and I am strong. I am a ten.”
I do that all the time with my student athletes and they love it. I have little bracelets I sell on my website that have an “I am a ten” on it because it is such a powerful thing to tell yourself. I am a ten.
When you go into competition, you might be nervous, but think about it as practice, say “I am a ten,” and go out there and do what I have to do.
You have to remain positive with yourself in order to get over those feelings of anxiety and stress.
Do it every day and do it at practice. Do it before you go to sleep at night.
Look at yourself in the mirror saying it. Keep that mentality throughout the whole season throughout the whole year throughout practice throughout competition.
Then when it it’s time to compete, you are ready.
If you missed the first Part of this series click here.
To go to the next part of this series click here.
Raven Magwood is the author of The 7 Practices of Exceptional Student Athletes. As a motivational speaker, Raven started the Student Athlete Pledge in an effort to encourage student athletes to be well –rounded individuals who excel academically, athletically, and professionally.
For more information, visit www.RavenMagwood.com or www.StudentAthletePledge.com.