Pre-Meet Jitters/Anxiety

It would help if we knew specifically what you were nervous about. Can you put your finger on it? My first inclination is to think that there's absolutely no pressure because you don't have a swimming background, it's only your second meet, and you haven't done backstroke before. So, you can't possibly fail. You're guaranteed a best time! :) Are you anxious about your performance (your time?) or about the logistics of getting into the water, keeping water out of your mouth and nose, etc.? If you are concerned about your time, I would say to just try to set other goals totally unrelated to time. How about setting a goal like, "I'm going to meet 10 people at the upcoming meet"? I know it sounds corny, but it's working for me. I changed my attitude recently when I realized that I was missing out on the fun of meets by obsessing over a few tenths here or there. Now I'm having more fun, and actually swimming better in some events because I'm so relaxed......... I've always suffered from performance anxiety all my life. I'm a perfectionist too. It also makes me nervous doing anything in front of a group of people (stage fright?) It has gotten SO much better, since I've become an adult but is now rearing its ugly head again. Logically, I know in my head that everyone has to have a first meet, but that doesn't seem to help me much. I am anxious about my performance and time. I'm also really anxious, because I feel unprepared. I wasn't planning on going to this meet, until my coach begged at the last minute. I haven't had much practice starting off the blocks, and that makes me nervous. The meet is in a week, and I just started backstroke starts yesterday. I'm actually wondering today, if I should skip this meet and just keep working toward my events at Nationals. Thoughts?

There's no substitute for racing experience. I wouldn't skip.

I've always suffered from performance anxiety all my life. I'm a perfectionist too. It also makes me nervous doing anything in front of a group of people (stage fright?) It has gotten SO much better, since I've become an adult but is now rearing its ugly head again. Logically, I know in my head that everyone has to have a first meet, but that doesn't seem to help me much. I am anxious about my performance and time. I'm also really anxious, because I feel unprepared. I wasn't planning on going to this meet, until my coach begged at the last minute. I haven't had much practice starting off the blocks, and that makes me nervous. The meet is in a week, and I just started backstroke starts yesterday. I'm actually wondering today, if I should skip this meet and just keep working toward my events at Nationals. Thoughts? Masters is very different than age group swimming. Everyone wants to see you do well (even your competitors) and they are quick with a word of support if you don't. Have a great time, and go to the meet- it will be worth 5 practices.

No don't skip the meet, use it for practice for Nationals! Try to think of the worst thing that could possibly happen. If it did indeed happen "what would you do?" "What would other people do?" "Is it really that bad?" This summer was my 1st National Meet. I was seeded LAST in the 200 Freestyle(I'm not sure why I entered it?) I arrived way too early for the meet and sat around all day and worried. When the event finally arrived my friend Jimby walked me up to the blocks and interviewed me with his flip camera. I hopped up at the last minute to start. I dove in and my googles rolled and completely filled with water. I stopped, fixed them and then swam a terrible 200 Free. Pretty dreadful huh. Well the truth is I found the whole thing very funny! I finished last. We all chuckled about my bad swim and that was it. No one made fun of me or excluded me from anything because I was a loser. I ended up doing well in my other events(pr in the 1500), meeting lots of amazing people, and having the time of my life. Do not let your worries get in the way of your potential. Go out on a limb and let yourself live a little on the edge. If you screw up remember, the best lessons are the ones learned from mistakes! HAVE FUN!!!! BE FIT!!!!!!!!

No don't skip the meet, use it for practice for Nationals! Try to think of the worst thing that could possibly happen. If it did indeed happen "what would you do?" "What would other people do?" "Is it really that bad?" Right on, Bobinator! This is kind of my rallying cry, what is the worst that can happen? So far, the worst that has happened was running into a duck turd in an open water race, losing to Fort in the 100 back and having to suffer with zipping up wookie's suit at a meet. While all that is pretty bad, it's not life threatening. I also think it flows - you do one thing out of your comfort zone, you might discover a whole new sport you like or have the confidence to do another thing.

STOP IT, Jitters do you no good until right before your race. Before the meet arrives, prepare to race your events. When you are at the meet, warm up, get ready for your events be prepared for your events, then get up and race your events. Leave swimming in the pool, stay busy with the other aspects of your life. Have fun. It's just swimming. ande I was just wondering what you guys do for pre-meet jitters. I'm going to my second Master's Meet April 10 & 11th in Lexington, KY. I'm swimming my first backstroke events at this meet. Since I never was an age grouper, high school, or college swimmer, I tend to get really nervous the closer to a meet that I get. It's getting so bad this time, that it's getting to the point that I'm not having fun anymore. I've also started to dread going to practice and just swimming in general. Do any of you have advice? Any help would be appreciated.

I was just wondering what you guys do for pre-meet jitters. I'm going to my second Master's Meet April 10 & 11th in Lexington, KY. I'm swimming my first backstroke events at this meet. Since I never was an age grouper, high school, or college swimmer, I tend to get really nervous the closer to a meet that I get. It's getting so bad this time, that it's getting to the point that I'm not having fun anymore. I've also started to dread going to practice and just swimming in general. Do any of you have advice? Any help would be appreciated. I think there's some very good advice here for getting rid of the jitters using different mental approaches and breathing exercises. A physical approach that has worked for me in the past was getting into the warm up lane/pool just a few minutes before my race and swimming a very easy 50 or 100. It seemed to take just enough of the edge off, without completely erasing the good part of that excitement most of us feel before a race. I'd also urge you to swim these preliminary meets before nationals. Practicing racing is important, and it will allow you to work on a pre-race routine that is successful for you. Good luck!

I am anxious about my performance and time. I'm also really anxious, because I feel unprepared. ... I'm actually wondering today, if I should skip this meet and just keep working toward my events at Nationals. Thoughts? I think you should do it. You can actually use your perceived unpreparedness to your advantage. Use the meet as an experience gathering exercise for Nationals. Just get in and swim your best and don't even worry about your times. Think about this meet purely as practice for Nationals. As far as tackling jitters, I do think visualization helps. Every night when you get in bed vizualize yourself swimming a perfect race. Yes, negative thoughts will creep into your mind from time-to-time, but use this time to focus on the positive.

Make yourself believe you cancelled the meet, so you'd have nothing to be jittery about, then show up and swim. don't get jittery with it till the ref blows the whistile & you step up on the block

Swimming to set records or win the race is the quickest way to burnout. you have to swim for your self. Really? Says who? We all swim for our own reasons. I personally don't swim with losing as my goal, although it does frequently happen.