How to prevent nervousness?
Mental Preparation
Karissa Peji Asked 12 years ago
Every time I get to play with someone in a real game, I always get nervous especially when I'm against someone I don't know... I always do crazy thing resulting to my defeat and I'm always trembling with fear, my legs freezes and shaking even my hands, so please help me to prevent this tough situation....
Alois Rosario Answered 12 years ago
Hi Karissa,
This is a normal response when you are playing a match. Most players go through this at some stage.
One simple method that you can use is to take a deep breath when you feel this start to happen. As you take the breath count to 6, then hold the breath for the count of 2 and then breathe out for 7. Focus only on the counting and the breath. After you finish the breath think about what tactic you are going to use for the next point.
We get nervous when we start thinking about the future and what might happen. What you need to deal with is what is happening right then and that is the next point and how you are going to try to win it. If you keep doing that for each point the result will take care of itself.
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Arnon Thaicharoen Posted 12 years ago
It means you haven't practice your mental game.
Table tennis is a mind-intensive game, not just physical. I myself (and I bet everyone at one time or the other) have that problem. Until recently, I believed that once my table tennis skill are good up to some level, such nervousness will disappear. Alas, I'm dead wrong. When you're nervous, you cannot use your skill effectively. The killing strokes are unusable. You're limitted to just react to the opponent's balls, mostly with pushes and wait for your opponent's initiatives. I hate such situation.
Nowadays, when I practice, I observe and discipline my mind along with the physical training. When negative thoughts surface, I smother them immediately. This requires practice and I suggest you do the same. You can blank your mind, focus upon your own body, think about something nice, etc. Just don't let negative thoughts take control of your mind.
Another thing that can help is do practice matches often. Perhaps with some small bets just to get your nerves up so you can learn during those matches (which are not serious) to control your own mind.
Let me make an analogy.
When you see a white line on a basketball court, I bet you don't have any problem walking on it. But putting that same white line on the top of the 5-meter wall, I bet your legs are shaking and your confidence gone. Why? The white line are of the same size and your walking gait is the same.
Your leg are shaking because you "think" the negative thoughts of what will happen if you fall of the top the wall. It's that simple.
Even if your walking skill gets better, your legs are still shaking if you don't shut out those thoughts.
Karissa Peji Posted 12 years ago
Thank you very much for the tips.....