Nerves at Nationals
I've done enough pictures-only posts lately. So here goes an expose on nerves surrounding the ultimate "series." As a preface, Chain qualified for Nationals this past weekend by beating Doublewide. Counting college and club, I am playing in my 11th (if you count coaching, this is 13) Series and this will be my sixth trip to Nationals.
Throughout the series, I wonder how I - and the team I am on - will reach the top; how I will complete the passes and get the turns necessary to win; how we will string together all the games necessary to reach our goal. Quick story about nerves:
My senior year at GW I can remember getting a floor spot the Friday night before Sectionals. The lack of structure that seemed to represent gave me an awful feeling about the days and weeks to come.
A more recent tale:
Last year, Chain nearly lost to El Diablo in the finals of Sectionals. We pulled out the victory 16-14 I believe. This game in particular was nerve-wracking. Following this sectionals Chain was expected to crush Doublewide but instead lost the Regional finals (and along with it our top seed at Nationals).
From the smallest of things -a Tuesday track workout- to the larger stages -warming up for semis against Furious at Nationals 06- my nerves seem to flare up. Here are the symptoms:
- I become hyper-sensitive about my appearance - more aware of people, especially spectators
- I can feel my lungs contracting more acutely - physically communicating that I am under pressure
- I grow numb to some of the actions of my body despite the heightened awareness, like being disconnected
Most definitions of nervousness and anxiety allude to the fact that there are no actual dangers when one feels nervous. Fear is a reaction to an actual threat. Nervousness, on the other hand, relates only what has been stirred up inside one's brain to cause a reaction resembling fear.
Symptom #3 reminds me of high school football, when our coach would yell at us for being nervous - visible to him because players' eyes would glaze over (feeling that something is unreal/disconnection from the moment).
Feeling nervous is not necessarily a bad thing. A) it shows that I care about something, that I recognize an event's importance; B) in the words of asa w, "[nervousness is] healthy and... can be a powerful asset if you can channel it into effort on the field"; C) it may help complete a task more efficiently, with the added intensity I bring (see I Love India).
That's where I'm gonna end it. For a 2009 South Club Open Regional write-up, go here. More on Nationals and such to come. Would be interested in hearing from friends about your nervousness, your season, and you in general.
3 comments:
It's interesting that you would write about this because Sunday at regionals was the second time I have gotten nervous in my ultimate career (First being the semifinals of last year in Sarasota). The only side-effect that I noticed was that my breathing became quicker and shorter as I waited on the line ready to play defense. I was warm, loose, and ready but nerves were very apparent. I think Spades is right I worked hard that point; really wanted to shut my person down. The block was a bonus.
Wow, good to hear that you do have emotion (nerves). As a tongue in cheek comment - based on your captaincy during this years summer league I wasn't even sure sometimes that you had a pulse, let alone emotion! All kidding aside, I went looking for info on southern sectionals to see how Chain did, and I ran across your blog. Congratulations on the sectionals win as well as the summer tournament play, and best of luck for the coming nati's. It's great to see the commitment that you guys put into it, and the excellence that you demonstrate playing ultimate.
See you next summer.
Kruser (hammer)
PS. Yes, I'm old enough to be your dad, but not as old as your dad. 'Nuf said.
i'm a bit late in replying to this post, but seeing you tonight prompted me to check your blog... it was great to see you, by the way. sorry about that eye... ;)
nervousness before competition is totally natural, and i can definitely relate. my typical symptoms are: a. i get really quiet/deep in thought, b. tend to not show much emotion in my face/look very serious, and c. i like to take a moment to myself and get away from everyone. i had a pre-game ritual for both softball and basketball... and they were actually very different from one another. but doing my little routine, the same thing before every game, seemed to put me at ease and get me mentally ready for games. and the days i wasn't able to do my ritual i could always tell i was off - and that was probably just a mental thing, but i felt off nonetheless.
good luck at nationals!! can't wait to hear/read about it
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