Can anxiety hurt an athletes performance?
If athletes can’t control their anxiety, they will have a hard time competing. Stress can lead to a lack of focus and can worsen the athlete’s performance. Anxiety over poor performance can lead to more stress. Here are some examples of how stress can hurt an athlete’s performance during competition: • Golf. Many golfers face a problem called the “yips.” The yips are jerking movements that golfers make when they are under stress. They usually happen when trying to putt, and can add almost five strokes to a round of golf. The yips are more likely during times of stress or difficult shots from awkward positions. • Tennis. During a tennis match, players must be able to relax and focus. Poor returns or serves can upset players and create negative thoughts. Players who have problems with anxiety will have a hard time letting go of these thoughts. When this happens, they won’t be able to concentrate on the next shot and will under-perform. • Running. Long-distance runners must be able to con
