Conquer Your Fear Of Making an Error
“Be bold. If you are going to make an error, make a doozy, and don't be afraid to hit the ball”.
—Billie Jean King
You will make mistakes and that is the truth. Whether in life or in volleyball practice, we all make our share of errors. How many times did you fall just to get up and be stronger than before? The process of falling and getting back up repeats daily in our lives in almost everything we do.
While coaching, I am consistently coming across of “fear to make a mistake” in my athletes. If this is you remember: fear is not pushing you forward but holding you back. Being gutsy gives you by far bigger results and advantage than being timid and playing safe. Whether a beginner or a professional athlete, the errors will happen all along the way.
One way to get over the fear is to practice visualization. Visualize...yourself hitting/serving/passing ball the way you want it..winning championship, getting a scholarship, playing in front of the big crowd…Visualize and you are more likely to do it. Take time before practice, game, point and simply imagine the outcome that you want. Your mind will be occupied with thoughts of success rather than failure. Visualization comes naturally for some players but not the others. You have to practice visualization it like any other volleyball skill. Try it today and work on it everyday. It will take the edge off.
Athletes use your mistakes to your advantage. Be aware of them, analyze them and try to fix them. Use your time in practice to learn but not to fear. You are in practice to make things better, not to be perfect. Repeat, repeat and repeat: that is the only price you will have to pay to be great at something. Repetition will lead to change, change will lead to greater confidence and confidence will lead you to success.
Be resilient in the face of the failure and see it as necessary for learning and achievement. Be fearless. That is the only way you will grow. It is time to let go of your fears. It is time to visualize your success and achieve it.