| Pressure is part of all sports and its impact in | | | | are two out, do you want to be at bat? |
| youth sports is something we need to carefully | | | | 3. If you're on deck in the same situation, do you |
| evaluate. The spotlight is brightest in baseball; | | | | want your teammate to win the game or do you |
| there is simply no place to hide. For the pitcher, | | | | want a chance to get to the plate? |
| batter, catcher and anybody the ball is hit to, all | | | | 4. Would you prefer your teammate make the |
| the attention of parents and peers is riveted on | | | | last out of the game so that you don't have to |
| that player. In soccer, basketball or other sports, | | | | bat with the game on the line? |
| it's easy enough to "blend in", but not in baseball. I | | | | 5. Do you want to pitch? |
| have tremendous respect for every kid who | | | | 6. Would you want to come in with the bases |
| takes the risk and goes out to play ball - | | | | loaded and your team has a one run lead in the |
| especially the kids who are not as talented; it's | | | | championship game? |
| not easy. This is especially true for a young | | | | Projection of Parents, Friends and Relatives - |
| pitcher who controls every aspect of the game. | | | | Projection is one of the defense mechanisms |
| Is there simply too much pressure put on kids to | | | | identified by Freud and still acknowledged today. |
| early? I don't think so. As we evaluate the | | | | According to Freud, projection is when someone |
| physiological aspects of pressure, the kid's | | | | is threatened by or afraid of their own impulses |
| psychology, our own beliefs, and effective ways | | | | so they attribute these impulses to someone else. |
| to deal with pressure, I'll let you know why. | | | | For example, a parent or grandparent who is so |
| What Is Stress? - Changes, such as sudden | | | | nervous about the outcome of a game can |
| trauma, several big crises, or many small daily | | | | project their own insecurity and stress onto a |
| hassles, cause stress. The human body has | | | | child when the child isn't bothered at all. For |
| different ways of responding to stress; one quick | | | | example, I know some grandparents, who are |
| responding nerve-hormonal system involving | | | | admittedly risk averse themselves and protective |
| adrenaline, another long-lasting system involving | | | | of their kids (no matter how old they are) are |
| cortisol, and perhaps others. These systems not | | | | now at least as protective of their grandchildren. |
| only determine the intensity of our anxiety | | | | They have a grandson who is an excellent pitcher |
| reactions but also our attitudes, energy level, | | | | and loves to pitch, but they still feel that he's |
| depression, and physical health after the stressful | | | | under too much pressure and maybe he shouldn't |
| events are over. Stress can also be a source of | | | | even be playing baseball. This is an example of |
| energy that can be directed towards useful | | | | projection of their feelings about the child rather |
| purposes. How many of us would study or work | | | | than actually finding out how he feels. I know |
| hard if it were not for anxiety about the future? | | | | many parents who prefer their child not come to |
| Life is a dynamic process and thus forever | | | | bat in a tough situation just in case their kid |
| changing and stressful. Physiologic changes including | | | | makes the last out. While this is very easy to |
| an increased heart rate and blood pressure, faster | | | | understand since we all want to protect our |
| breathing, muscle tension, dilated pupils, dry mouth | | | | children, it often isn't the kids feeling the pressure, |
| and increased blood sugar all take place. In other | | | | but the rest of us. |
| words, stress can also be described as a state of | | | | Dealing With Pressure - Webster's Dictionary |
| increased arousal. Up to a certain point stress is | | | | defines "Pressure" as "the burden of physical or |
| beneficial. We can perform with greater energy | | | | mental distress". Even that definition is interesting |
| and increased awareness with the influx of | | | | because it neglects the possibility that people can |
| excitatory hormones that release immediate | | | | perform well and even thrive under pressure and |
| energy. | | | | stress. One misconception though with performing |
| Understanding Each Child - There are genetic, | | | | under pressure is that stress always has a |
| constitutional, and other factors that influence the | | | | negative connotation. Many times, "the stress of |
| pressure an individual will feel in any situation and | | | | competition may cause a negative anxiety in one |
| their reaction to that stress. Some of us may | | | | performer but positive excitement in another". |
| have been born "nervous", "happy", "emotional", or | | | | That is why one frequently hears how elite |
| even "grouches." Almost certainly we are by | | | | players' thrive under pressure, when most others |
| nature prone to be shy or outgoing, and we also | | | | would crumble. As individuals, our nervous |
| inherit a propensity for certain psychological | | | | systems differ; however, according to Richard |
| effects, including our reaction to stress. So, we | | | | Dienstbier at the University of Nebraska, we may |
| have to expect that each child will be impacted by | | | | be able to modify our physiological reactions by |
| and deal with pressure situations differently. It is | | | | learning coping skills. Not surprisingly, exercise and |
| imperative to judge each child as an individual. | | | | sports participation are commonly considered as |
| Some kids are desperate to bat with the bases | | | | activities to reduce stress from other areas in life. |
| loaded or the pitch in a clutch situation. Does your | | | | However, if a child is feeling pressure while playing |
| child hope the ball is hit to him so that he can | | | | sports, here are some solid stress relief |
| make the play or does hope it's not hit in his | | | | techniques they can employ: |
| direction so that he can't make an error? My | | | | 1. Visualization - Before a game, visualize yourself |
| favorite Michael Jordan quote is: "I've missed more | | | | in stressful situations and dealing with them |
| than 9000 shots in my career. I've lost almost | | | | successfully. Put yourself into that place mentally |
| 300 games. 26 times, I've been trusted to take | | | | so that you can deal with it better when it |
| the game winning shot and missed. I've failed over | | | | happens in reality. During the game, you can |
| and over and over again in my life. And that is | | | | remember back to how you've already dealt with |
| why I succeed." You want to put kids into a | | | | this situation and are mentally prepared for it. Just |
| position where they can succeed and to do that | | | | so you know where I'm coming from, visualization |
| you need to understand who they are and how | | | | is simply a shorter version of meditation. |
| they are impacted by different pressure | | | | 2. Breathing - If a kid is feeling stressed during a |
| situations. | | | | game, feeling less anxious can often be as simple |
| Another difference in children can be the way | | | | as taking a few deep breaths. Deep breathing is a |
| that they act in team vs. individual sports. A friend | | | | very effective method of relaxation. It is a core |
| of mine has a child who is a very good athlete | | | | component of everything from the 'take ten |
| and highly competitive in tennis and golf, but | | | | deep breaths' approach to calming someone |
| "disappears" in soccer and basketball. The | | | | down, right through to yoga relaxation and Zen |
| psychology behind this is simply that this person is | | | | meditation. It works well in conjunction with other |
| able to perform when she knows that it's all up to | | | | relaxation techniques such as Progressive Muscular |
| her. However, she doesn't want to be the one | | | | Relaxation, relaxation imagery and meditation to |
| who lets down the team by missing a shot. On | | | | reduce stress. |
| the other hand, some children may react in just | | | | Conclusion - A lot has been made of the impact |
| the opposite manner and not want the outcome | | | | of pressure in youth sports and the negative |
| to be totally determined by their own actions. | | | | impact, but much of this is simply projecting a |
| The easiest thing to do is very simple - just ask | | | | parent or relative's individual beliefs on the |
| the kids. You may be surprised at how honest | | | | situation. While you can argue that I'm doing the |
| the answers will be. Here are some questions to | | | | same thing, but in reverse, I in fact take a |
| try: | | | | different position which is: 1) to acknowledge that |
| 1. When the game is tied and you're playing in the | | | | pressure does exist, but 2) to determine how |
| field, do you want the ball to be hit to you or | | | | each individual child can deal with the situation. Only |
| would you prefer that the ball is hit to one of | | | | by knowing each child can you determine if the |
| your teammates? | | | | situation is, in fact, distress rather than an |
| 2. If your team is losing by one run in the bottom | | | | adrenaline producing pressure moment which the |
| of the last inning, the bases are loaded, and there | | | | kid loves. |