What Techniques Reduce Sports Anxiety?
Quick Summary:
- Sports performance anxiety is one of the most common mental challenges athletes face and is fueled by future-focused worry about mistakes, outcomes, and others’ opinions.
- In-the-moment techniques like acceptance, breathing, self-talk, and controllable goal setting help reduce anxiety by bringing attention back to the present.
- Acceptance is the foundation—fighting anxiety makes it worse, while accepting it allows you to calm your mind and perform despite feeling anxious.
- Long-term strategies like mindfulness meditation and visualization train the brain to be present and build confidence over time, reducing anxiety triggers.
- Combining in-the-moment tools during competition with long-term mental training leads to lower anxiety, greater confidence, and better performance.