{"id":13667,"date":"2021-07-15T18:13:00","date_gmt":"2021-07-15T22:13:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.peaksports.com\/sports-psychology-blog\/?p=13667"},"modified":"2025-06-05T05:39:49","modified_gmt":"2025-06-05T09:39:49","slug":"self-intimidation-for-athletes","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.peaksports.com\/sports-psychology-blog\/self-intimidation-for-athletes\/","title":{"rendered":"Self-Intimidation for Athletes"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"600\" height=\"300\" src=\"https:\/\/www.peaksports.com\/sports-psychology-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/athletic-success.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-15823\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.peaksports.com\/sports-psychology-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/athletic-success.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.peaksports.com\/sports-psychology-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/athletic-success-300x150.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Why_Athletes_Feel_Intimidated\"><\/span>Why Athletes Feel Intimidated<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2><div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_82_2 ez-toc-wrap-center counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-transparent ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">Article Table of Contents<\/p>\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><a href=\"#\" class=\"ez-toc-pull-right ez-toc-btn ez-toc-btn-xs ez-toc-btn-default ez-toc-toggle\" aria-label=\"Toggle Table of Content\"><span class=\"ez-toc-js-icon-con\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #0769bf;color:#0769bf\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #0769bf;color:#0769bf\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/www.peaksports.com\/sports-psychology-blog\/self-intimidation-for-athletes\/#Why_Athletes_Feel_Intimidated\" >Why Athletes Feel Intimidated<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/www.peaksports.com\/sports-psychology-blog\/self-intimidation-for-athletes\/#Here_are_the_most_common_ways_you_might_feel_intimidated%E2%80%A6\" >Here are the most common ways you might feel intimidated&#8230;<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/www.peaksports.com\/sports-psychology-blog\/self-intimidation-for-athletes\/#The_focus_you_choose_affects_three_things\" >The focus you choose affects three things:<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/www.peaksports.com\/sports-psychology-blog\/self-intimidation-for-athletes\/#Overcoming_Self-Intimidation\" >Overcoming Self-Intimidation:<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/www.peaksports.com\/sports-psychology-blog\/self-intimidation-for-athletes\/#Related_Articles\" >Related Articles<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/www.peaksports.com\/sports-psychology-blog\/self-intimidation-for-athletes\/#The_Confident_Athlete\" >The Confident Athlete<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n\n\n\n\n<p>Do you or your athletes<strong> feel intimidated when competing agains<\/strong>t top competition? Or do you see it as a challenge to embrace?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Against top-tier competitors, are you able to rise to the occasion or do you question your ability to perform well?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>I&#8217;ve worked with many athletes over the years that focus too much on the competition and thus become self-intimidated. Yes, playing against a rival or a high ranked opponent can be stressful, but doesn&#8217;t have to be!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Nerves can be elevated when playing tough competition because you are left alone with your thoughts and play out worst case scenarios in your mind.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>One athlete in our survey requested help with the issue or difficulty of playing against tough competition:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p>\u201cHow do I play without feeling intimidated or self-conscious around top competitors?\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Here_are_the_most_common_ways_you_might_feel_intimidated%E2%80%A6\"><\/span>Here are the most common ways you might feel intimidated&#8230;<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>You compare your skills to your competitors&#8217; skills and feel inferior.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>You fear you might embarrass yourself is you lose badly to the competition. <\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>You build up the competition in your mind and think, \u201cI have no chance.\u201d <\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>You focus too much on the wins and record of your opponents and feel you can never stack up.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Sound familiar?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Feeling intimidated or self-conscious can happen at all levels of sports&#8211;even the pros!<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>But no one is trying to intimidate you. You do it all on your own by focusing on the talents and record of your competitors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>It is not possible to focus on two different things at the same time, such as your opponent and your game. Focus is a one-or-the-other prospect.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"The_focus_you_choose_affects_three_things\"><\/span>The focus you choose affects three things:<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>How you feel<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>What you think<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>And thus how well you perform<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<p>Focusing on a competitor who is an idol will create feelings of anxiety, intimidation and fear. You can&#8217;t perform your best when you are focused on opponents&#8217; strengths and records.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Overcoming_Self-Intimidation\"><\/span>Overcoming Self-Intimidation:<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>How will you ever beat someone you idolize if you think you can&#8217;t? You first have to open the door by thinking anything is possible in sports.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Don&#8217;t build up opponents in your mind to the expense of your confidence! Be sure not to compare your skills, experience, or record to your opponent&#8217;s. This is a sure way to feel intimidated and lose confidence.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Instead focus on your unique talents. What strengths do you bring to the game? What advantages do you have as an athlete?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>It might also help to think about a simple concept I teach my athletes: think &#8220;nameless and numberless.&#8221; Don&#8217;t attach a name or number to your opponents. Instead, think that they are human too and put on their equipment one leg at a time&#8211;just like you!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Embrace the challenge of testing your skills against quality competition!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity is-style-dots\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Related_Articles\"><\/span>Related Articles<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.peaksports.com\/sports-psychology-blog\/how-to-overcome-feelings-of-intimidation-in-golf\/\">How to Overcome Feelings of Intimidation in Golf<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.peaksports.com\/sports-psychology-blog\/how-to-overcome-intimidation-in-sports\/\">How to Overcome Intimidation in Sports<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.peaksports.com\/sports-psychology-blog\/coping-with-intimidation-and-added-pressure\/\">Golf Podcast: Coping with Intimidation and Added Pressure<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-normal-font-size\" id=\"block-5726d13f-f715-4ca4-8813-2f8a9ebd8bc3\">*Subscribe to&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/podcasts.apple.com\/us\/podcast\/sports-psychology-podcast-by-peaksports-com\/id152566009\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">The Sports Psychology Podcast<\/a>&nbsp;on iTunes<br>*Subscribe to <a href=\"https:\/\/open.spotify.com\/show\/0ynyaalKxbnNmsoeL8gF5X?si=8224669de9b3435b\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">The Sports Psychology Podcast<\/a> on Spotify<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-normal-font-size\" id=\"block-281f5afb-980b-4c71-9aa0-11d606b5f7c9\"><strong>Download a&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.peaksports.com\/mental-toughness-report-athletes\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">free sports psychology report<\/a>&nbsp;to improve your mental game!<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-css-opacity is-style-dots\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"The_Confident_Athlete\"><\/span>The Confident Athlete <span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"alignright size-full is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"225\" height=\"250\" src=\"https:\/\/www.peaksports.com\/sports-psychology-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/confident-athlete-audio250.jpg\" alt=\"Sport Psychology Cds\" class=\"wp-image-15979\" style=\"width:205px;height:auto\"\/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>\u201cThe Confident Athlete\u201d consists of 2 audio programs that include 14 days of confidence fueling exercises and a simple to follow workbook that guides you through the 14 days, helps you apply the strategies, and customizes the exercises to your personal needs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Let me help you put a <strong>stop to the confidence leak<\/strong>. You can learn to have greater levels of confidence in competition than you do in practice by identifying the specific ways you undermine your own confidence and <strong>how to convert your practice confidence into COMPETITIVE CONFIDENCE<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cThe Confident Athlete\u201d is a ground-breaking system to teach you how to think like a champion and have ultimate self-confidence every time you step on the playing field, court, track, or course. The confident athletes was <strong>developed for any athlete \u2013 junior to professional \u2013<\/strong>that wants to gain confidence. However, coaches and sports parents can learn how to teach others to perform with ultimate confidence. Use my program if you want to bust a slump or just wanting higher or more consistent levels of self-confidence.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"gb-container gb-container-0b39f7aa\">\n\n<a class=\"gb-button gb-button-a74417ae gb-button-text\" href=\"https:\/\/www.peaksports.com\/the-confident-athlete-cd-program\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">GET DETAILS<\/a>\n\n\n\n<a class=\"gb-button gb-button-461ab57c gb-button-text\" href=\"https:\/\/shop.peaksports.com\/collections\/the-confident-athlete-series-digital-download\/products\/the-confident-athlete-digital\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">BUY NOW<\/a>\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Why Athletes Feel Intimidated Do you or your athletes feel intimidated when competing against top competition? Or do you see it as a challenge to embrace? Against top-tier competitors, are you able to rise to the occasion or do you question your ability to perform well? I&#8217;ve worked with many athletes over the years that focus too much &#8230; <a title=\"Self-Intimidation for Athletes\" class=\"read-more\" href=\"https:\/\/www.peaksports.com\/sports-psychology-blog\/self-intimidation-for-athletes\/\" aria-label=\"Read more about Self-Intimidation for Athletes\">Sport Psychology Article&#8230;<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":15824,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[142,3,50],"tags":[250],"class_list":["post-13667","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-sports-psychology-tips","category-mental-toughness","category-sports-psychology-certification","tag-sports-psychology"],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t<!-- All in One SEO Pro 4.9.5.2 - aioseo.com -->\n\t<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Do you or your athletes feel intimidated when competing against top competition? 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