We made it to the championship. That is how it was supposed to be. The #1 team vs. the #2 team facing off for all the marbles! The bracket played out exactly as it was set up. We went in at #2 and ended at #2.
If I were a typical youth parent, I could give you a gazillion reasons we were #2, but none of that matters... I refuse to be that mom and no matter what, this was a GREAT season. We had an enjoyable group of boys and, as far as we could tell, all the players and parents, from the top of the lineup to the bottom, left with a feeling of accomplishment and joy. If that isn’t success, I don’t know what is!
Even so, we learned some lessons along the way. One lesson is something I based my entire career upon as a DI coach: baserunning matters!
The other is something I knew throughout my career, too, but is harder to stick to: do what got you there!
As we approached the championship game and the undefeated team we were about to face, we did what most of us do when we face a formidable opponent. We started looking at what they do. Then we started comparing it to what we did. Then, as is typical, the conversation turned to “Should we move so and so down?” “They have walked 5 kids in the last three games.”
We aren't unusual! It's only natural to feel the pressure mount as we approach championship games, critical client meetings, or high-stakes situations. We want to win!
Typical or not, this is where so many of us get in trouble. We start to wonder if what we do will be enough. We focus on “them” instead of “us”.
We are pulled to do more. We shift our focus. We are tempted to change our approach, adjust our strategies, or try to predict and counter our opponents’ or clients’ next moves.
But the question is, is this really the best approach?
Pressure makes us think, feel and act differently. It can distort our thinking which, as we know, directly affects what we choose to do! According to psychologist Sian Beilock, author of Choke: What the Secrets of the Brain Reveal About Getting It Right When You Have To, our ability to perform well under pressure hinges on staying within our comfort zone and trusting our training. "When we get too caught up in the moment and start second-guessing our well-practiced routines, that's when we choke.”
We think about their catcher, so we don’t run…which is how we score…then this leads to being a little timid in our leads and hesitating on batted balls. And all of a sudden, we aren’t ourselves.
Even before it starts, we are pulled to adjust. Moving our #2 hitter down just in case they throw strikes (remember, they are under pressure, too) and moving a kid up from the 6 to the 2…that has “choke” written all over it…for both kids. Why? Because it takes them out of their comfort zone and when we get out of our comfort zone, we think…and as my former assistant, now head coach at Cleveland State exclaimed during one of our championship games years ago, “this is no time to think!” That’s for sure, Kyler!
Overthinking is a trap. In The Inner Game of Tennis, author Tim Gallwey talks about how detrimental overthinking under pressure…or any time…can be. He emphasizes the importance of quieting the mind and allowing our well-honed skills to take over which is hard to do when we do things that are not part of our routine or normal game plan. Gallwey's "Self 1" and "Self 2" concept suggests that Self 1 (the conscious mind) can often interfere with Self 2 (the subconscious mind), which is responsible for our natural, practiced abilities. Changing our approach throws Self 1 into overdrive and our overthinking inhibits Self 2's efficiency.
In some ways, it comes down to trust. If our game plan changes drastically, what does that say about what we have done to this point? I get that we scout and adjust to match our opponent but playing into their game plays into their hands.
Research by sports psychologist Dr. Michael Gervais, author of The First Rule of Mastery: Stop Worrying About What People Think of You, supports this idea (can’t you tell by the title of his book?).
Gervais emphasizes trusting the process and sticking to what has worked. "When you deviate from your usual approach because of pressure, you're essentially saying you don't trust your own preparation," Gervais notes. Just like the routines we build to manage uncertainty and work with a consistent approach no matter what we face, trust in what we do is vital, and lack of it can undermine performance.
Consistency is key in high-pressure situations. Consistency leads to comfort. Comfort leads to confidence.
In The Power of Habit, Charles Duhigg discusses how habits and routines shape our behavior and performance. He points out that in moments of stress, falling back on ingrained habits can be our best bet. "When you’re in a high-stakes situation, the best thing you can do is rely on your habits. They are your brain's way of automating responses, allowing you to perform at your best without overthinking." In other words, we don’t rise to occasions. We fall back on habits. So if we change things at the last minute, we tend to have one foot in our old ways as we try to adjust to our new approach.
One foot in and one foot out of anything leads to disaster!
The pull of pressure can even take us away from our tried and true theory of “control what you can control!”
Trying to anticipate and react to every possible move of an opponent or client can lead to a false sense of control. University of Pennsylvania positive psychologist Dr. Marty Seligman, argues that focusing too much on external factors can make us feel helpless and overwhelmed. Instead, he advocates that we stick to an internal locus of control—focusing on what we can control, which usually boils down to our actions and our RESPONSE-ABILITY. Seligman states, "When we shift our focus from uncontrollable outcomes to controllable processes, we are more likely to perform at our best."
Pressure shifts our focus to the outcome. Process keeps us focused on what WE CAN DO…and if we are focused on what WE CAN DO, we are better suited to adjust to what the game (whatever game we are playing, no matter who we are playing) is demanding of us in the moment.
We are always playing THE GAME and if we can focus on playing THE GAME, not the other guy, that shifts our focus to observing the landscape and responding without emotion. As I remind my young athletes, once the pitcher releases the ball, it doesn’t matter who threw it or what his or her intentions were. It’s not up to us to respond to the ball. It’s you and the ball!
All of this leads to sticking to what we know works.
Those at the top of all disciplines are consistent, in training, routine and approach. Michael Phelps famously said, "If it ain't broke, don't fix it." And Phelps' coach, Bob Bowman, was all about trusting their training and routines, especially under pressure. Success leaves clues!
I get that we aren’t Michael Phelps. But it may be more important for us mere mortals to stick to our training to be our best!
The next time we get to the championships, we will be sticking to these principles, and you should too…even though the pull of pressure will make us think otherwise!
When pressure peaks, we will encourage our team to stick to our tried-and-true routines (you, too!). Consistency builds confidence.
If we can remember how we feel now, we will do some prep work, too! This is where our habit of building an evidence journal comes into play. Reminding our team of our past successes and the effectiveness of their current strategies keeps them focused on what WE CAN DO instead of what might happen. This goes hand in hand with emphasizing the importance of focusing on what we can control—our own actions and preparation.
And no matter what, if we are focused too much on what they are doing, we aren’t focused enough on what we need to do. No matter how strong the urge is, we must resist the pull to change strategies or tactics last minute. Small adjustments are necessary at times but it’s more about being aware, remaining present, turning off our brains and trusting in the preparation and practice that got you to this point.
As Dr. Joseph Parent writes in Zen Golf, “When it comes time to make a swing on the course, the best thing we can do is trust our body (and instinctive mind) to produce what we’ve practiced, without thoughts about swing mechanics, without trying to consciously direct or physical movements.”
Playing under pressure is no time to adjust to what you think might happen before there is any proof it will happen. It’s time to free your mind so we can observe and adjust as needed.
Until then, do you!
Like Oprah said, “When you run a race, you hurt your ability to compete when you turn your head to look at the competition chasing you, you lose a step physically and psychologically. Run the race always stretching to do your best, imitations will come in last, no one can catch an original.”
It's by trusting our training, sticking to our routines, and focusing on controllable factors that can better navigate high-stakes situations (even though this championship wasn't all that :)) and lead our teams to success.
Remember, excellence is not achieved by constantly changing what works but by consistently executing well-practiced strategies with confidence.
What are your thoughts on this topic? How have you managed pressure situations in your leadership or coaching role? I'd love to hear from you and let's discuss in the comments below!
Manage the pressure and manage the moments!
Julie
P.S. Do you need to add to your team’s mental game? Let’s build a program for you! Send me a text at 234-206-0946 or an email at juliej@ssbperformance.com and let’s start planning for the 2024-25 season!
Julie Jones
Mental Performance Coach
SSB Performance
juliej@ssbperformance.com • 234-206-0946
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