Beyond the Game: blog

Choking is defined as a significant drop in performance triggered by increased anxiety in high-pressure situations. We’ve all witnessed athletes underperform when it mattered most—missing an open shot or falling out of rhythm. But why does this happen and what can we do about it?

I recently worked with a 7-year-old tennis player on court when, all of a sudden, she got hit in the leg with a powerful ball. First, she looked shocked. Then, after a few seconds, she started crying. And I was so glad that she did.

If you’ve ever lacked motivation to train or work out, you’re not alone. We all have days when everything feels off – when we’re tired, frustrated, not seeing results, or struggling with things that seemed easy last week. It’s tough. When things are going well, staying motivated is easy. But on those tough days when the world feels like it’s falling apart, it’s a different story.

When we talk about self-confidence, we usually think of it as a feeling of certainty or assurance; an absence of fear, anxiety, self-doubt and negative thoughts about failure. However, there is another definition of confidence, and according to this, confidence is not a feeling. It is an act of trust. When it comes to performance, I prefer using the second definition, and here is why.

If you have ever felt nerves before your competition, I am sure you have tried a few things to get rid of your nerves. It is so normal if you want to get rid of your anxiety, especially before an important competition.

If you have ever felt nervous before a competition, I am sure you have heard the advice “just think positively” or “use positive self-talk”. And if you have tried to think positively or used positive self-talk, and it worked, good. If you haven’t really found positive self-talk or thinking positively very helpful, this post is for you.