Overcoming Anxiety in Youth Elite Sport

The challenge

SB had already competed at an elite level for wakeboarding, including in the World Championships for her age group. They were accomplished and determined within their sport, resources that were evident in other aspects of their life too. 

Wakeboarding, in case you don’t know, because I had to look it up, is when the competitor stands on a wakeboard and is pulled along by a speedboat. They ride the board in the wake of the boat, sometimes performing tricks. A trick can be backflips or twists in the air etc. 

However, during a competition, one of the tricks they were attempting didn’t go to plan resulting in an injury. 

Following this SB had significant confidence issues when competing and while practicing certain tricks. 

In addition to this, negative self-talk had started to creep into their preparation and even during their downtime. This could also include worries about what others would think of them, or worries that they would be laughed at should a trick not go to plan. 

The effect

SB was finding that despite wanting to practice and compete, previous memories of her accident, injury and negative thoughts were holding them back, preventing them from practising or attempting certain tricks. 

Negative thinking and self-talk were beginning to impact how they thought about their sport even away from the water, resulting in a drop in confidence and a loss of something that they enjoyed. 

Training at the lake offered other benefits to their life such as friendships, team working skills and socialising. Just the thought of not having this was beginning to have a negative impact on their wellbeing overall. 

Solution

Initial Consultation - MP3 of Hypnosis Provided

SB detailed the problem and their goal. I explained why their mind was reacting this way. Their Mum was present, however didn't attend sessions.

11 Online Sessions

I explained how to ground themselves and return to the present moment when overthinking or experiencing negative thoughts. I worked with the memory of the accident and processing the associated emotions.

I helped SB to create visualisations of how they wanted to behave while considering all safety aspects. I helped them revisit memories of when they’d been confident and then brought them into the present, watching them smile, lifting their head and shoulders as we did so. I encouraged them to keep using the visualisations to strengthen the behaviour pattern. 

We created a motivational anchor, which they said worked really well when in cold water. Their competitors occasionally would use mind-games when competing so we created a super-suit anchor for protection, a process we both enjoyed.

I used hypnosis relating to changing behaviours and we worked on achieving other goals such as running in a relay race or dancing exams, all of which grew and strengthened their confidence and self-belief. 

Result

”Hi Emma, 

Just wanted to say a massive thank you for the help you’ve given me. I got through to finals on Saturday and today I got third out of 8 girls! So I’m happy to say, ‘I’m third best under 18 female wakeboarder in the UK!’ 

Thank you for the help, because I wasn’t too stressed out and I felt calm and I was confident I was going to get my plan done. 

I have nationals again next year so I’m sure we’ll have more sessions then.”