Keeping Composure In Sports

Andrew

I recently made my university's fencing team. I get really nervous before competitions. Once I had to vomit in the bathroom. During the competition, if I start to do poorly, I get really frustrated at myself-- especially when I lose to someone I know I'm better than. I curse, throw my mask, storm out of the room, that kind of thing.

I hate letting my team down and I hate having my teammates and coaches tell me I'm doing great when I know I'm doing awful to try and cheer me up.

I know I would fence better if I didn't have this problem. Help? Advice?

matthias00

So, you get too nervous?

Well, my cross country coach told us this year that one of the better ways to focus and calm down if you start to get overly nervous before a race/match/whatever is to just take deep breaths, and to visualize the entire thing going perfectly. Like, closing your eyes, visualizing the preparation before the match (suiting up, whatever), then visualizing yourself fencing and winning. When the actual match time comes, you're supposed to feel a lot less nervous.

I can't speak first-hand on this; I never did it myself, personally. But it seems solid enough. Hope it helps.

Joseph Stalin

matthias00 wrote:

So, you get too nervous?

Well, my cross country coach told us this year that one of the better ways to focus and calm down if you start to get overly nervous before a race/match/whatever is to just take deep breaths, and to visualize the entire thing going perfectly. Like, closing your eyes, visualizing the preparation before the match (suiting up, whatever), then visualizing yourself fencing and winning. When the actual match time comes, you're supposed to feel a lot less nervous.

I can't speak first-hand on this; I never did it myself, personally. But it seems solid enough. Hope it helps.

If you visualize correctly, meaning you really get into it and take your time with it, it will actually help you perform better. You need to be very, very relaxed and spend maybe a half hour with it every dday for the last few days before your match. At least, this si how we did it for swimming. I am guessing that it would work as well for fencing. I am by no means an expert, however, so I'd say look it up and give it a shot.

VeritasVR

I know what you mean Andrew. I am currently having that problem even though I'm at practice for ~15 hours a week. Before college I never got extremely jittery like I do now.

I think it's a combination of lack of ACTUAL competition and the feeling of responsibility. This is all psychological.

For the first point: In high school I went to local and regional competitions almost every weekend, and that was my main form of experience. That's most likely how it is for you now, since parents are unable to drive you to these things and college coursework is a lot tougher than high school. I recommend that you take some practice time very seriously, like it would be in a competition. Don't fence to improve your skills like you usually do, but fence to win. Yell after a really good touch, the very last touch, or a good wrist/toe touch (if you're in epee).

Now for the second point, which I think might be an issue too. Your school has a fencing program, and you're a part of it. You represent your school in an NCAA competition, which people will watch (maybe), read about (not really), and judge (probably). So you get nervous when you don't want to blow it against the club teams. I will tell you that you need to fence your game. When I'm nervous I fence very defensive and my reaction time is cut in half. Go risk it. Do a flesche attack often. Don't do something stupid, but set things up without thinking too much. If your game is solid, you will win. There's always one or two fencers will lower skill that will beat you from time to time, so don't worry.

Believe me, when people ask if you're on a varsity team and you say yes, that's a pretty awesome feeling. Just relax and just do it.

BeautifulJoe

You are obviosuly compassionate about the sport. I am sure you have the skill if your are playing at a college level. So basicly you just need to have fun while you are out there. Too much stress/nervousness = no fun. I am not saying it shouldnt be there at all. I wrestled quite a bit in highschool and I think I nearly shit myself a few times. However the feeling does go away eventualy. If yo have teh chance try looking up techniques that help eliminate tunnel vision, it may help your issue.

TexiKen

Visualize your strategy. You have a few seconds between each point in fencing right? To get in positions, what have you? Use that time to either figure out your next plan of attack or analyze what went wrong with the previous point.

I know that when I play people who lose it in tennis (and they lose it a LOT), I attack more aggressively and I know I''m better than the other person if they fall apart. Hide that at all costs, because it's not like people are going to feel sorry for you and give you a free point or something.

Also realize that you tire yourself out a lot more having hissy fits than utiilzing that energy into the game.

Delzhand

If you're about to fly off the handle, hell - just think of this thread. Try to remember that you asked for help because it's a problem, and you know that it won't make your current situation any easier.