Under Pressure...How Do We Handle It?

I’m sure you have been like me and have spent a great deal of time this weekend engrossed in “March Madness” NCAA basketball games. So many exciting games, fantastic finishes, and amazing performances. We also saw some teams and players perform not at their best and display emotions that were not normal for them. Our very own Caitlin Clark displayed some very negative body language toward her teammates and the officials, which led to a moment where her dad had to yell at her to “stop complaining”! Clearly, some pressure had gotten to her which she admitted after the game that she didn’t handle well.

It got me thinking about the pressure these athletes are under and how the best are able to cope with that pressure. It has to be an incredible stressful time tor these athletes to represent their schools on the biggest stage, with the entire country watching, with so much at stake, and with social media commenting on every moment that comes up.

During one of the games, I saw that Adidas has dropped a commercial utilizing the song “Under Pressure” designed for younger players with the message-you got this-it’s only a game-don’t let the pressure get to you. It’s a great message and pulls in Patrick Mahomes and Anthony Edwards to put perspective on the pressure they are under. Here is the commercial if you want to watch it:

Although we are talking about athletes being under a lot of pressure, we all know that each of us faces pressures throughout our every day lives and we need to be able to deal with them appropriately if we want to keep our physical and emotional well being in the right place. Here are some tips in dealing with pressure that we can take away from watching the NCAA games:

1. Control what you can control. Often times, pressure comes from what we put on ourselves, not something that others do to us. If we just take care of our business and do our best, then the outcome will take care of itself. I control my attitude in any situation and sticking to the positives when we are feeling pressure can only make the situation better. Caitlin Clark mentioned in her press conference after the game that she needed to “smile more” and that can help make you feel better in a difficult situation.

2. Lean on those around you when you feel pressure. Athletes in team sports have teammates around them-one player does not determine the outcome of the game. If you are surrounded by great people, they ccan help you get through the challenging times. During the times when we individually feel pressure and stressed, reaching out to a colleague or family member and communicating your thoughts can lead to a better overall feeling because of being connected to a community and knowing we aren’t alone. This is a strategy I personally don’t utilize enough as I am surrounded by amazing people who are willing to listen and help me work through the stress I am feeling!

3. Slow down-breathe-think first, and then act on the pressure and stress you are feeling. Pressure tends to speed us up and may lead us to react and make decisions that we wouldn’t necessarily make. Stay in the moment-find ways to slow yourself down and keep perspective about your situation. Is it something that is life threatening or life altering? If not, why am I putting so much pressure on myself? Maybe I am looking a the negatives of the situation and need to think about the positives that may come out of a situation instead. My view of the situation is going to determine how I feel about it.

Pressure is something we all feel at various times of our lives. We must learn how to control it and make the best of the situations we are in. March Madness gives us examples of young people under the most extreme pressure of their lives in a very public environment. We may not handle every situation perfectly, but if we keep perspective and utilize strategies that work for us, we can work through any pressure situation that comes up.

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Coach K