More Than an Athlete: The Seven Biggest Fears That Fake You Out of the Zone

How many times have you heard kids cajole each other and say these two words: “Bring It!”? The problem is that no one really knows what that “It” is! It’s actually worth knowing, so let me explain. Ultimately your “It” will be the key to sustained peak performance.

“Bring it!” Means to bring your whole self, it’s really another way of saying “more than an athlete.” When we watch tennis or any sporting event, it is clear what is on the athlete’s outside: Their talent, technique and skill. But bringing your whole self means to bring what’s on the inside, too: Spirit, inspiration, story and soul. By bringing your whole self, you are not only bringing your “It,” you are bringing your “More.”

Think about Rafael Nadal … he brings his deep determination and grit. Serena Williams brings her feisty spirit and never-say-die attitude. At the French Open, Jack Sock talked about bringing the inspiration of his brother’s bravery in the face of illness. All of these players are bringing their own “It.” This “It” is what people cannot see but what drives and motivates the performer. This “It” is the athlete’s X Factor that makes him or her more than an athlete.

In an ideal world, everyone would be loose and relaxed enough to bring their whole self to the court and play inside the zone. But what gets in the way of bringing “It” to the court? Our fears and every day experiences can throw us off balance when we least expect it. They can be emotional, physical or both. We often say “everything is fine,” but carry stress around from one activity to the next. Simulating dominos, the stress picks up steam. 

Then, when the nervous system is overwhelmed, we feel blocked. We can no longer bring “It” to the court because we are dealing with excess nervousness, anxiety, chokes and tightness. One of my clients described it as, “The body shuts down, it’s overwhelmed and says ‘no more.’ The body knows and recognizes this internal state of extreme chaos, before your head and heart do.”

So, how do you get back “Home?” How do you bring your whole self to the court? Your biggest tool is to be able to recognize, identify and understand your fears. Below, I’ve listed seven of the biggest fears that can take us out of the zone. When you are feeling blocked, you can come to this list, and just by identifying your fear, you can begin to move through it.

1. The fear of not being good enough: This fear rears its head all the time, both on and off the court. In fact, just thinking about it may trigger an “ah-ha” moment. We all want to believe in ourselves and feel that we have the ability and intelligence to be successful, and anything short of that can be disheartening. In match play, players sometimes get discouraged and begin to fear that they are not good enough to compete with an opponent. They then lose their will and compete at less than optimal levels. Sometimes both in life and in tennis, setbacks may seem like validation of not being good enough. However, while we may have setbacks, what really determines our strength is how we respond to them.

2. The fear of failure: This fear usually rears its head during a close match, especially when a player is perceived as being better than their opponent. The seemingly lesser player plays without expectations, but the favored player seems to be playing with a weight on their shoulders. The favored player is afraid to fail because they tie their identity and self-worth to their performance. Additionally, they may be afraid of what others will think and the subsequent reaction if they perform below expectations. Oftentimes when a player is afraid to experiment, afraid to try new techniques, or afraid to take a risk, their fear of failure is the cause.

3. Fear of the unknown: This fear often rears its head in preparation for a big match. The player cannot possibly know for sure whether they will win or lose. This “fear of the unknown” creates a high level of anxiety about what’s going to happen, and then “if that happens” what “will happen” after that. Along with this is the fear of not being in control. This can be seen when a player is on the defensive. This player may over-hit, perhaps attempting a low percentage winner, because they are so uncomfortable with their opponent dictating the point. However, being aware of their defensive positioning and accepting the situation will allow them to play in the present and play solid defense, eventually working their way back to neutral or the offensive.

4. The fear of being judged: This often comes up when a player is thinking about what their parents, coach, friends or teammates are thinking as they are playing. The simple act of this thought takes the player away from their present situation on the court, towards something they cannot control off the court. It is here that unconditional acceptance from the support system is so important. When such support is provided, the player can feel calm, relaxed and safe. Thus, the player can play free without any worry of the results.

5. The fear of not meeting expectations: This is similar to the fear of being judged, in that the player cannot control what someone else expects. Often, the expectations of parents, coaches and friends are a moving target in which only wins and losses are taken into account, and the process (their journey) is completely dismissed. For a player to play their best, they must be in the present and focus directly on the experience. Focusing on expectations creates a mental distraction, not to mention enhanced feelings of pressure on the court.

6. The fear of success: This fear manifests itself when a player has a lead and then begins to think things like, “I shouldn’t be beating this person, they are ranked higher than me.” Or a player may not view themself at a certain level, and therefore, does not feel deserving of a victory. Other times, the uncertainty and subsequent anxiousness of putting themselves on the line for a possible victory is too much to handle. The certainty of losing, while disappointing, is well-known and a familiar road already traveled.

7. The fear of injury or re-injury: This fear is referred to as the “silent epidemic.” It is often driven by our macho sports culture’s unwillingness to deal with the emotional stress and trauma-like experiences that may result from injuries. Specifically neglected is the athlete’s uncertainty about recovery, alienation from the team, fear of not being able to return at full strength, and even the anxiety about what might happen should the situation recur. It’s important to note, while the athlete may be cleared physically by doctors, emotionally, they still may not have processed through the fear. Anyone who has experienced an injury understands how psychologically the injury doesn’t just disappear when the doctor says “You’re cleared to play.”

In today’s sporting society, exhibiting any sign of weakness or fear is difficult for a player. Society views vulnerability as weakness, whereas in reality, awareness of vulnerability equates to true strength. It is from this platform of awareness that change and improvement are best triggered. Fears like the seven mentioned above pop up all the time, especially in pressure situations. They are a defense mechanism to prevent us from trying something which may make us uncomfortable. Yet recognizing such fears and having the courage and support system to work through them is what truly enables us to grow and reach our individual sustained peak potential.