Sports Anxiety: when your insecurities about your ability to play sports manifests through bodily reactions such as shaking, butterflies and/or nausea, and your mental and emotional state becomes flooded with panic, fear, and negative thoughts such as “OMGee…I suck!!” “I can’t throw/kick/catch/block/dodge!!!!” “I’m a nuisance to the team!!”
Sport anxiety often appear the morning of game day, or the night before… or sometimes even a few days before (depending on the sport being played). Hours before the game, you may begin to doubt why in the world you decided to join PentaSport and what ever possessed you to say yes. You may find every possible way to get out, but in the end, put on your sports gear and arrive at SFX, freaking out even more until game time.
This was me.
Every. Single. Game.
There wasn’t a game when I didn’t panic and fake cry in front of my teammates, expressing to them the dread I feel inside. I would even spread my fears like wildfire to other teammates who also suffer from sports anxiety! However, this was not the end of the cycle, but in fact just the peak. What goes up, must come down.
At the highest peak of my sports anxiety, beautiful things began to happen. I was no longer alone in my fears, but surrounded by supportive, encouraging teammates who listened and reminded me that this was a team effort, and that we had one another to lead on. They taught me strategies and tips for the court, and reminded me that I didn’t need to be perfect. I was fine just the way I was. My skill level and my knowledge of the sport was good enough. It didn’t matter if I fumbled the ball, missed a basket, or got hit by a dodgeball. As a team, we worked together and had mad love for one another as we gave it our all. Knowing that my teammates are behind me, cheering for me, even when I just touch the ball for 1 second, helped me feel free to be me, and know that I, too, am a part of a whole and I’m an important part of the team.
We come together to have fun while playing sports, build relationships with one another, and to be unified through teamwork, fitness and fellowship. The love and support on the teams I have been a part of have been so encourage and undeniably supportive. It is so great to be a part of a sports league that is for one another, rather than against. Yes, there is friendly competition, and secretly (or not so secretly), every team wants to win and get all 5s for spirit points. But, seeing how different people from different teams take time to mix and mingle, chat, eat, cheer each other on, watch each other’s games, participate in socials (set by us, or set by you!), volunteer their time to help, and return season after season is so evident to how supportive and loving of a community PentaSport has become!
I’m not going to lie. As I take a break from playing on a team this season, I do not miss the sport anxiety. However, I definitely do miss being in a team environment that help squashes fears and encourages teammates to feel at ease.
Looking forward to connecting more with you all at our social on Thursday, October 20th at 6:30pm at Cedar Cottage Neighbourhood Pub (3728 Clark Dr, Vancouver, BC V5V 3E2). See you there!
Play hard. Laugh harder. Shine brighter.
About the Author
Tiffany is one of the PentaSport league reps and committee members. She played on LLC’s Toxic Fireballs in season 2 and on Hope City Church’s Straight Outta Bethlehem in season 3. She and her husband (who periodically makes an appearance) live in suburban Richmond. She is a counsellor by day and a hermit by night. She is usually spotted eating in the SFX gym even though it is forbidden to do so.