Reducing the Importance of an Event

Progressive Muscular Relaxation

Reducing Uncertainty

Uncertainty can cause high levels of stress. Causes of uncertainty can be:

• Not knowing whether you will be performing, perhaps because teams are not announced until just before a performance
• Not knowing what a coach or instructor thinks of your abilities
• Receiving vague or inconsistent instructions

In these cases the actions of other people are negatively affecting your ability to perform. The most effective way of countering this is to ask for early posting of a team list, to ask for a clear statement of what a coach thinks, or to ask for clarification of vague instructions. Where instructions are inconsistent or conflicting, ask for clarification.