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