Do you experience fear in high pressure moments during games?
In those high stakes situations, are you calm and confident, or afraid of messing up?
All athletes want to be clutch players. The ones who perform with ice in their veins, undaunted by pressure.
If anything, pressure helps them.
But playing well under pressure isn’t easy. Especially when you experience fear in high pressure moments.
To help you play well under pressure, let’s examine how fear affects high pressure moments and a simple mindset shift you can apply to cope with fear in high stakes moments.
Why Fear Follows Pressure
Why is a moment within a game considered a high pressure moment?
Because it feels more important than any other moment.
Number one, because it is the moment you’re in.
Number two, because the situation makes it feel more important.
Pressure in sports occurs because of the score, how much time is left in the game, being in a tough position, etc.
A great example of a pressure moment is late in a baseball game, bases are loaded, there’s one out, and the team in the field is up by one run.
Both teams will experience pressure in that example.
The pitcher will feel pressure to not walk the batter and tie the game. The fielders will feel pressure to make the play. And the hitter will feel pressure to drive in the tieing or go-ahead run.
Pressure is present due to the situation within the game.
What about fear? Where does fear play into all of this?
The fear I’m referring to is the fear of failure. The fear of messing up and choking in big moments. That is a strong fear many athletes experience.
Let’s take a look at one player from the baseball game example, the pitcher.
The pitcher could easily feel fear on the mound. In fact, the example I gave is one I’ve come across multiple times in mental performance coaching sessions working with pitchers.
What would the pitcher be afraid of?
Walking the batter, giving up a hit, or hitting the batter.
The pitcher would fear not doing his job and allowing the runner on third, or even worse, the runner on second, to score.
Fear of failure forms in high pressure moments because the consequences of failing seem much more important.
Sure, a walk earlier in the game isn’t something the pitcher would like to have happen. Same with a hit or letting in a run. But now it matters even more! A walk or a hit decides the game. He’ll be the one responsible for his team losing, and that’s a strong focal point for fear.
Of course we know there are a lot of factors and moments throughout the game that have led to the pressure moment, and it’s not fair to place blame on any one player.
However, you know if you’ve ever been in a pressure moment and especially if you’ve failed in one, it feels like the weight of the loss rests solely on your shoulders.
Feeling as though losing will be your fault in that moment adds to the fear you experience.
Fear & Underperforming in High Pressure Moments
In high pressure moments, fear does nothing but hold you back.
Earlier I gave the example of a pitcher who feels fear late in the game. Fear that can quite literally change the way he pitches.
Since fear leads to avoidance, the mind’s goal will be to play it safe and keep you from experiencing the thing you’re afraid of.
That sounds good and all, until we realize how our minds go about doing so.
The mind’s natural response to fear is avoidance. That is the quickest and most rational way to keep you safe. Or so it is in the wild.
During a game, however, avoiding only leads to hesitant and timid play. Both of which do nothing but cause you to underperform.
Going back to the pitcher example, he is likely to take some off his pitches and try too hard to guide the ball. This over-control will result in poor command and increase his chances of walking the batter or throwing a meatball down the middle for the hitter to crush.
When you play with fear in high pressure moments, you hold yourself back and play timidly. We have to change that!
Mindset Shift to Manage Fear in High Pressure Moments During Games
I’ve worked with many athletes who struggle in high pressure moments and many who excel in such situations.
As a result, I’ve come to notice common characteristics on both sides.
When athletes perform poorly under pressure, it is largely the result of fear and over-control as discussed above.
When athletes play well under pressure and in high stakes moments, they have a different way of thinking.
They focus on how to win.
Focusing on How to Win
What does it mean to know how to win?
It means you understand all the different details and steps that go into you being successful.
When fear takes over in high pressure moments, your attention is on the result. That is what the fear is focused on: you choking.
When your mind is fixed on the future, fear and anxiety develop. Athletes who play well in high stakes moments know how to keep their attention present. A great way to do so is by focusing on how to win.
Let’s go back to that pitcher example I gave earlier. It’s not realistic for him to not care about the outcome or try and convince himself in the high pressure moment that there is no pressure.
The pressure is very real to him and he feels it. Trying to convince himself otherwise will only be distracting.
He accepts that he wants to do well at that moment. But he also understands that focusing on the result will lead to fear. So, he turns his attention onto how he wins. How he pitches his best.
He reminds himself that how he pitches his best is by trusting his stuff, throwing hard, and not trying to aim the ball. So, he locks onto his target and focuses on delivering the pitch with full confidence.
As a result, he strikes out the batter.
The difference between that version of the pitcher example and the one I gave earlier is in the way he delivered the pitch.
When his mind was consumed with fear, he delivered the pitch in a scared and hesitant way.
When he focused on how to win, he delivered the pitch with confidence and conviction.
For yourself, when you’re in a high pressure situation during a game, remember how you win. Turn your attention onto the controllable aspects of your game that will put you in the best position to succeed.
Instead of allowing fear to alter the way you play.
Final Thoughts
Fear follows high pressure moments during games because the moments feel more important, which makes it easy to develop fear surrounding messing up.
No athlete wants to choke under pressure. But being afraid of doing so only increases your chances of failing in such moments.
Instead of allowing fear to control your mind in high stakes moments, turn your attention onto the process.
Focus on how you win and focus on the small, controllable parts of your game.
Thank you for reading and I wish you the best of success in all that you do.
