MODULE 2: UNDERSTANDING STRESS AND ANXIETY IN SPORTS

Objective: To understand the origin and psychology of stress and anxiety, specifically in the context of sports and youth development.

2.1 WHAT IS STRESS AND WHERE DOES IT COME FROM?

Stress and anxiety are words we hear all the time, especially in competitive environments like sports. But what do they actually mean and how do they show up in young athletes?

Stress is the body’s natural response to a challenge. In small doses, it can actually be helpful  like a bit of nervous energy before a match that sharpens focus. But when stress becomes constant or overwhelming, it starts to break athletes down instead of building them up.

Anxiety goes a step further. It’s what happens when the pressure doesn’t go away, and the brain gets stuck in a cycle of worry, fear, or self-doubt. For young people whose sense of self is still forming, this can hit especially hard.

During the MindPlay focus groups, many trainers and parents shared those expectations, both external and internal are the biggest triggers.

  • Young athletes feel the need to constantly perform to please their trainers, parents, or peers.
  • Small mistakes are often taken personally, leading to self-criticism and a fear of failure.
  • One trainer mentioned that many athletes “fall apart” mentally when they don’t meet their own expectations.

Some participants highlighted social comparison and peer pressure as key stressors, especially during tryouts, tournaments, or when roles on the team shift. Others noted that parents, with good intentions, often add pressure without realizing it. “They’re only trying to help, but sometimes the kids can’t breathe,” one participant said.

2.2 THE IMPACT OF STRESS ON THEIR PHYSICAL PERFORMANCE AND MENTAL WELL-BEING. 

WHAT STRESS DOES TO YOUNG ATHLETES

When stress builds up, it doesn’t just stay in the mind, it shows up in the body and behavior too.

  • Physically, stress can reduce energy, disrupt sleep, and lead to injuries. An athlete might feel constantly tired, or overtrain trying to “make up” for a mistake.
  • Mentally, it clouds judgment, lowers motivation, and kills enjoyment. Confidence drops. Athletes may start avoiding practice or giving up when they feel they’re not “good enough.”

One powerful quote from the focus group:

“Sometimes they pretend they’re sick just to skip training. It’s not that they don’t love the sport. They just don’t want to feel like a disappointment again.”

This kind of pressure takes a toll. Over time, stress can turn something joyful into something heavy or worse, cause young people to drop out of sports altogether.

Even elite athletes face this. As shown in the Stanford article “Deep breath. See the ball. Trust.”, pros often use breathing, visualization and mindset work to stay grounded under pressure. The difference is that they have support teams. Most kids don’t.

That’s why the role of the sports club is so important.