Every competitive athlete experiences pre-competition jitters. Your jitters may be positive and helpful or induce anxiety and apprehension. Pregame jitters can cause some athletes to not sleep well the night before competition. Some athletes can’t eat the morning before a big game. Your pre-competition jitters may make you feel like you have to throw up.
What you really want to feel is a tingling of excitement in anticipation for competition (what I call positive pregame jitters). However, if your pregame jitters turn into anxiety or panic, you will not perform your best at the start of the competition because of excess tension, a lack of trust, a poor focus, or worry about your performance. Welcome your pregame jitters as a sign you are ready to compete.
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