Many lads there suffer from nerves on the day of big games?
Whatever level that may be? Important club game/ county championship game/ all ireland series.. whatever
Get a knot in yer stomach, you dont seem to be able to think as straight as normal and yer legs dont seem to move as well as they normally do as if something is preventing them?
This happens me regularly and prevents carrying form from day in day out club games where there is no pressure to must win crucial games and club championship games
Note there would only ever be a maximum of 1 or 2 hundred people watching
Anyone know how to overcome this?
How do county players overcome it in front of 60-80000 people and the media?
im now mid 20's and this has been happening since I was about 18, so experience doesnt seem to be shaking it
Usually nerves go when the ball is thrown in for most players.
Is it nerves from fear of loss or your performance? LIke if your confident in your own ability and know your fit you should be calmer. its only when I know im out of my depth that I get nervous or when my opponent has the better of me.
Confidence and belief in your ability should subside the nerves. Nerves is a emotional reaction to all the doubts and worry in your head i think. Cure maybe doubt your doubts and stop worrying.
Quote from: jonnybhoy82 on July 10, 2007, 12:46:28 PM
Many lads there suffer from nerves on the day of big games?
Whatever level that may be? Important club game/ county championship game/ all ireland series.. whatever
Get a knot in yer stomach, you dont seem to be able to think as straight as normal and yer legs dont seem to move as well as they normally do as if something is preventing them?
This happens me regularly and prevents carrying form from day in day out club games where there is no pressure to must win crucial games and club championship games
Note there would only ever be a maximum of 1 or 2 hundred people watching
Anyone know how to overcome this?
How do county players overcome it in front of 60-80000 people and the media?
im now mid 20's and this has been happening since I was about 18, so experience doesnt seem to be shaking it
Big match coming up Jonnybhoy??
Just focus on the game, don't think about the crowd, just remember that most of them are sitting there watching because they are not able to/good enough to be playing themselves.
I used to play with a fella who believed self-relief before a game was the best antidote to nerves. ;D
Then of course there are the serial vomiters.
Or you could just smoke a fag Johnny Pilkington style.
Get someone to bitch-slap you across the face. You'll be too angry to be nervous.
QuoteJust focus on the game, don't think about the crowd, just remember that most of them are sitting there watching because they are not able to/good enough to be playing themselves.
That's a very good point. I wasn't a brillaint player when I was younger but I did let myself down on several big days due to heaping too much pressure on myself and worrying about what other people thought of my performances. I should have played more top level football than I did but I often psyched myself out and underperformed. Wasted energy and focus on the wrong things. Now, in my 30's, I can see this. As Gaoth Dobhair says you have to strip away everythnig and divert your focus on important things. The crowd are unimportant. The game is just another game. Consequences of winning/losing will occur regardless - you cannot alter them. You have the talent and ability. Just focus on the game, the next ball and this increases your chances of a positive outcome.
ye just have faith in your own ability if you weren't good enough you wouldn't be picked so pretend its a training session and go out and enjoy the game of football afterall that what its all about.I was a serial puker myself there were a few of us ,we formed the serial pukers anononomous (spl) ;)
everyone gets the butterflys in the stomach and a bit nervour b4 a big game, if you didn't then your prob not up for the match. Doing the warm up your legs feel like lead and your saying to yourself "f**k me, how am i gonna get thru this". But 2 or 3 lung busting runs at the start of the game will soon give you your second wind and then just let the rest happen, if your still heavy legged after that then your not fit my boyo.
don't forget the proper food b4 the game, and minge doesn't count ;) :D. are you well hydrated, 3-4 litres of water in you all day
The best things to do for nerves b4 a big game is to focus on only the things that you can control. i.e - you cannot control the crowd so dont worry about it. You cannot control how well the other players on your team will play so dont worry about it. Just concentrate on your own performance and make sure to think positive. Recall matches when you have played well and try and remember what you did in those games that meant you played well.
Don't think about the big picture or the impotance of the occassion simpy concentrate on the things that you do well and go out and do them. Its all in the head ;)
Former Liverpool hard nut Julian Dicks' gospel of match preparation:
"A can of coke, a Mars bar and two Silk Cut Purple."
I shit you not. ::)
Snooker player Paul Hunter (RIP) famously had a few ground-breaking ideas for settling his nerves during big games as well. Which basically amounted to having it away with his mott during the mid-session intervals. Whatever does the job I say :D
Imagine everyone in the crowd is naked.
Thanks for the advice so far lads
Ive heard many times thats nerves dissappear after the first ball or after doing one or two positive things but not me
the butterflys/ knot in the stomach last for the full hour and legs feel like lead for the full hour, always difficult to get a breath even though Im pretty fit in normal games - nothing seems to get rid of these things except the final whistle
Im a decent player and do have confidence in my own ability. I know I am usually in the top 5/ 6 players on the field in most games I play, I just always seem to let myself down on the big day and I think its stopping me playing at a higher level... all down to nerves
Any good books on the subject?
I find a pre-match routine is a good way to get ready for a game. Do something the day before/day of the match to keep your mind active and away from the game. I usually do something like cutting the garden or DIY, some people head off for a game of golf or snooker with the team mates.
Don't talk to supporters about the game, only players. Supporters have good intentions but feel the need to tell you how well you will play etc and for me that put me under severe pressure.
On the day of the game simple things like eating at the same time before each game, packing your bag at the same time, cleaning your boots all make it easier to focus on what you need to think about.
I always have a bit of how's your father two nights before a game but never the night before. ;D
The big thing is to keep away from people who talk too much about the game.
Hypnotism. If you're a forward get the hypnotist to tell you you're Colm Cooper.
Maybe your not any good and your out of your depth?? and you think you can hold your own but really you need to look in the mirror and ask yourself. and you are a stone overweight so that does not help
When travelling to an away game ye should stick on a few tunes in the car, have the craic with the lads in car and in the dressing room that will have you nice and relaxed. I `love games on the big day when there are a few hundred at the game, its a great buzz and a great feelling to score a point or hit a good shoulder. You should be confident in your ability and dont hide, get a touch of the ball as early as possible and once you do that you are up and running!
Quote from: jonnybhoy82 on July 10, 2007, 01:45:42 PM
Thanks for the advice so far lads
Ive heard many times thats nerves dissappear after the first ball or after doing one or two positive things but not me
the butterflys/ knot in the stomach last for the full hour and legs feel like lead for the full hour, always difficult to get a breath even though Im pretty fit in normal games - nothing seems to get rid of these things except the final whistle
Im a decent player and do have confidence in my own ability. I know I am usually in the top 5/ 6 players on the field in most games I play, I just always seem to let myself down on the big day and I think its stopping me playing at a higher level... all down to nerves
Any good books on the subject?
if you have a friend on the team, get them to come over and do a few things before the game like punching you in the stomach, roaring into your ear and face
then maybe try to run a bit to blow out the nerves and tire yourself out a bit.
Your problem is psychological.
If you can get the subconscious thoughts of fear out of your head (fear of playing badly I would suspect)
then you will prob be alright as some other emotion/thought occupies your head.
You could be one of these lads who responds to injustice from a ref, or responds well to getting a slap - by channelling your aggression into playing well
but until you get this, you dont get into the game.
I know of a guy who said he used to slyly slap his own midfield team mate when the midfielders were contesting a ball, blame it on one of the opponents and the team mate would only then get going.
The lad apparantly played sihte if he wasnt hit/fired up.
Dont know who you would go to, but I'd suggest a sports psychologist. Club or county could surely provide a few names.,
Do you play for us! ;)
Agree with a lot of the above, 1 thing to add, it sound like you might be a free taker, if so go to the pitch on you own and get regular practice, pit yourself various challanges and develop a routine, if your not a freetaker, up your intensity in training to full pelt match pace, try and mark the best defenders/forwards always to improve yourself.
Quote from: brokencrossbar1 on July 10, 2007, 01:51:49 PM
I find a pre-match routine is a good way to get ready for a game. Do something the day before/day of the match to keep your mind active and away from the game. I usually do something like cutting the garden or DIY, some people head off for a game of golf or snooker with the team mates.
Don't talk to supporters about the game, only players. Supporters have good intentions but feel the need to tell you how well you will play etc and for me that put me under severe pressure.
On the day of the game simple things like eating at the same time before each game, packing your bag at the same time, cleaning your boots all make it easier to focus on what you need to think about.
I always have a bit of how's your father two nights before a game but never the night before. ;D
The big thing is to keep away from people who talk too much about the game.
Just don't eat as much as him :D
Quote from: jonnybhoy82 on July 10, 2007, 01:45:42 PM
Thanks for the advice so far lads
Ive heard many times thats nerves dissappear after the first ball or after doing one or two positive things but not me
the butterflys/ knot in the stomach last for the full hour and legs feel like lead for the full hour, always difficult to get a breath even though Im pretty fit in normal games - nothing seems to get rid of these things except the final whistle
Im a decent player and do have confidence in my own ability. I know I am usually in the top 5/ 6 players on the field in most games I play, I just always seem to let myself down on the big day and I think its stopping me playing at a higher level... all down to nerves
Any good books on the subject?
I suffered a lot with nerves and it destroyed my underage career because it effected my confidence in a big way. Only lately am I able to overcome them but I have a strange attitude to it.
In the warmup and in the dressing room I start to focus and concentrate on my own game. I then work on getting the temper and blood up. I really try and get the blood up. When the ball is just after thrown in I run by bollix off for whe first while. I try and get a touch as early as possible.
If I feel im not in the game and its early I ususlly tackle someone really really hard because once you get a hit in, take a hit or get on the ball your in the game. Focus and concentration and getting the blood usually get rid of my nerves. Hating my marker makes you forget nerves too.
I dont mean to sound like a psycho or dirty player (because im not) but the above is working for me lately.
Oh before I forget. If you feel the jelly legs coming on thanks to nerves it is possible to run it off. So run hard for the first while and focus. It works for me.
As you would say Pints, I am just big boned! ;D
I think Visualization is the best thing to calm yourself.
It helps you get focused on the game and gets your head in the right place.
Just picture yourself doing simple things right during the game.
Getting out in front of the man, laying off a good pass to a free man, blocking, fielding, whatever.
You don't have to imagine a 60 yard solo followed by lashing over the winner from the sideline, because that won't help you as you know it's not likely to happen.
Focus on the things you know you're capable of doing and picture yourself doing them right over and over again until it feels like second nature.
Good performances are built on all the simple things being done right, if you concentrate on these things before the game, you're less likely to fumble the first ball that comes your way.
Being nervous is a normal thing...so, in that changing room before a big game...everyone feels the same as you...you are not alone in feeling like this. it is important to mentally prepare for the game...know that you are going to be nervous...it is your body getting ready for a physically big effort...visualise in your mind what will happen and plan what strategies in mind that you will do combat the feeling you have which is the same as all around you. When the game starts or in the warm up know that you will feel out of breath, weak...again this is normal...the man you are playing against is feeling the same...make sure to have done a really tough warm up so have got your second breath...keep remembering everyone else feels the same. When the game starts.....remember to look at the pitch...it is the same as the pitch you have played on since you were 8...the only difference occurs outside of the white lines where the scenery changes...the 14, 21 and 50 are the same as you own pitch...its your mind that is creating the monster you have to control....remember everyone esle feels the same as you....it is vital to get in as many tackles as you can in the first five minuts..with the physical contact your aggression level should sore...and remember everyone else feels exactly the same as you...when you make a mistake, again this is normal and it is the next ball that will make the difference, you cannot change the past, prepare before the game and know that you make a mistake and put inot prctise that stragegy you have prepared when that mistake accurs...the star of your team will make a mistake..if he can, you can....the next ball is the one that will bring difference to your game, not the past. Being menatally ready for all eventualities in the game is the sercet to reacting correctly...then you know how to react...and remember every player on thatr pitch feels exactly, exactly the same as you.
well said Maximus , Al pacino better watch out ;)
In the good old days a drop of poitin calmed many the nerves before a game.
Never put a Mayo jersey on on All-Ireland Day in Croker :'(
I always break the game into sections too.I set goals for myself such as 2 scores by halftime no matter how i get them.Another thing is keep moving during the entire game,its settles nerves and talk to your teammates.Everyone gets nerves, thats why some are brilliant footballers, ronaldo the brazilian had terrible nerves on the eve of world cup final in 1998.I have another stupid method to calm my nerves, i think of the fact that in 20 years time i will not be playing anymore and only kicking myself for not trying harder when i could have even if i am useless.
Then i look at ciaran macdonald or colm cooper that live for the big crowds and wonder whats my problem.
Quote from: Kerry Mike on July 10, 2007, 02:53:56 PM
In the good old days a drop of poitin calmed many the nerves before a game.
And the waft of Alcohol would knock out the lad marking ya.
QuoteSnooker player Paul Hunter (RIP) famously had a few ground-breaking ideas for settling his nerves during big games as well. Which basically amounted to having it away with his mott during the mid-session intervals.
Twud do wonders for attendances!!! Even the Ourma ones would go to matches if that oul carry on was going on at half time. ;) ;D
Everyone suffers from nerves, it's only natural. When I played I used this stuff for nerves, you sprayed into your mouth a couple of times about 2 hours before the match. Before a big match was the worst part but when you get on the pitch & got a touch you'd be grand. Leading upto a match, be positive, have confidence in your own ability, & concentrate on the match. The night before a match before you go to sleep visualise that you are going to have a stormer. Be positive, as you sound as if you have too many doubts & these are affecting you big time. Think of a match, even 3 or 4 years ago that you never put a foot wrong, & played really well....this will leave you feeling good. When you go out on the pitch for the warm up, make sure you start positively, even if you have to go up to the 21 to score a point(read that in Brian Corcoran's book).Just relax. When the match starts, if you make a mistake, forget about it, everyone makes mistakes, its the next ball that counts, just be positive & good luck.
Very practical and realistic advice Max. Nerves dont really ease with age as with experience comes the burden of responsibility and expectation. Think the key is trying to imitate the preparation/circumstances that led up to your best ever performances. Thats why even top players in all sports have habits that appear superstitious but in all likelihood is their way of ensuring consistency of performance. I remember a manager saying once that before every match you should always vow regardless of how the game goes to ensure that you dont wake up the following morning with that sinking feeling in your gut knowing you could have tried harder or taken more risks only for nerves and anxiety to undermine you.
Contact the Trickster
Lot's of good advice above, so much it could probably get confusing :)
My two cents.
I had similar problems, so much so I lost all confidence in myself, leading to me more or less quitting football at a young age. At about the same time I was playing intermediate hurling at quite a young age, and one of the guys in the team noticed I was quite a nervvy character in the dressroom, although always able to more than fight my corner in training. So he started to wind me up mercilessly on match day, so such an extent that I went for him, a guy nearly twice my age! Once that had happened he told me to use that anger in the game. Et voila, cured on the day. Of course at the time I didn't realise what it was all about. The face slapping, the roaring and shouting, the flaking all provoked me to an extent I forgot all about my "nerves", which was what I was concentrating on, and once I got a couple of games like that, I forgot all about the fact that I used to worry myself into a knot, to the extent that I joined the ranks of the serial pukers! The big man's action dealt with the symtoms, not the underlying anxiety, but with anxiety once you deal with the symptoms the cause soon recedes. Took me years to figure that out. After that to use the old maxim, I trained as I played, and when I went to play I knew I'd done it all in training previously, so there was nothing to stress about.
Sounds to me like you might be working yourself into a heap about this feeling - that you will feel this way again on the next big match day? That's anxiety dude. Continue on that road and pretty soon every match becomes a big match. Do you get those type of feelings around anything else in life? I don't know, like exams or job interviews? If so you could be, or could be becoming, an anxious type of person, it usually manifests in specifics and kind of spreads out from there. If that's the case loads of things, mentioned in the other posts, alone and in combination can help:
- diversion - my buddy winding me up, having a laugh with the lads before hand - this has an immediate effect
- avoid stressors - both mental and physical - talking to supporters/parents etc. putting their expectations on you, going on sessions the week of games, not getting enough sleep
- visualisation - "you see it before you do it - you see it, you do it" to quote Tony in "Any Given Sunday". Train as you mean to play, and realise when you play you've done it all in training is also part of this
- Quit negative self talk - when your getting on your own case about things, challenge it, give it a reality check. Like when you think "I always get heavy legged before a big match" Is that true? Surely there were times underage etc. when that didn't happen? "Or I never play well on the big day" - is that really true too? Think of times that disprove that. If you can't ask one of your firends on the team, I'm sure getting somebody elses persepective, i.e. an objective opinoin, will put you in the real picture.
- unrealistic expectations - as mentioned elsewhere nobody ever had the perfect game, are you expecting too much of yourself?
- relaxation - breath - seriously, sounds like an issue for you if you can't get your breath during a game even if your not physically tired. Tip - don't emphasise the inhalation, it's the exhalation we all forget about, you need to get that C02 out of your system. Before the game, that morning or the night before - deep breaths, not into your chest, into your stomach, so it sitcks out. Exhale even longer than your inhalation. When your heart is going 90 that can be hard to do, but stick with it and your heart will settle, and you will feel physically & mentally better too.
Any decent website on anxiety and relaxation will give you techniques that will help you dude. Hope this is of some use.
I have been following this thread and it is funny because a group of footballers and non footballers were talking about this in my company recently. The lads involved have all played in county finals and Ulster Club games for either Carrickmore or Killyclogher and believe me, one of these guys has played in alot of County finals. Like the majority of people are saying, nerves are natural and are certainly required. There are guys in both dressing rooms who apparently make themselves sick to relieve some pressure. However you need characters in your changing room to relieve the tension the week of the game. It is said (although it may not all be true) that Errigal Ciaran were big favourites against Carrickmore in 2001 county final. Carmen were training on Friday night (nine days before the game) and the manager, John Brennan, detected alot of tension so he organised a training session in Rosnowlagh on Sunday morning. Brennan took them on the piss after training and pulled a stroke later. He got them talking going home on the bus about their fears about next Sunday- and because of the drink they had none. He reminded them all week of this -and they won. The Killyclogher player though this was complete lies, but there is some truth in it. Other managers have held all summer long drink bans, some two weeks etc, but it all has to be in the head.