Pre-game Rituals Soothe Nerves
By Mikey Almanza
Common side effects are nausea,
anxiety and upset stomach, side effects of pregame “cold feet.”
All have their own quirks, especially athletes, and nothing can
compare to the unsettling duration
of pre-game waiting. Between
suiting up and the blowing of the
whistle.
Pregame anxiety can make athletes unfocused and unconfident,
causing them to under-perform and
hindering them from playing at
their full potential.
Sophomore cross country and
track runner Blaine Fisher said, “I
like to visualize the race and think
about my strong points and my
weak points so that I can use them
to my advantage. To overcome my
nervousness I like to stretch out a
lot.”
Sophomore cross country and
soccer player Gage Mruz said, “I
get real nervous, then I listen to
music on my iPod to help calm my
nerves, and it really helps.”
Junior cross country and soccer
player Cody Vitek has a similar
remedy. “I like to play my music
before ever run and every game it
helps me think about the game,”
Vitek said.
Pregame anxiety can happen to
anybody like junior cross country
and track runner Molly Dibben.
Current junior Molly Dibben competes the Blair Cross Country
Invite. Photo Submitted.
“When I get nervous before a big
run I like to do a warm-up run by
myself so that I am ready for the
actual race,” Dibben said.
Pregame anxiety can affect any-
one and symptoms vary, but there
are simple remedies that can help
improve an athlete’s ability to perform.