Nerves Aren’t the Enemy: Why Dismissing Them Does More Harm Than Good (Part 1)

Ever been told "Don't be nervous!" or "It's just another game, you'll be fine"? While those words might be meant to encourage, they actually do the opposite—they invalidate a natural and important part of performance.

In this episode, we discuss why nerves aren’t something to be minimized or ignored, but acknowledged and understood. Feeling nervous before a big moment isn't a sign of weakness—it's a signal that your body and mind are preparing for something meaningful. Yet, so often, we’re told to push those feelings aside, as if experiencing nerves is a problem.

Before we dive into strategies for managing nerves in Part 2, this episode focuses on why it's crucial to validate these emotions—for yourself, your teammates, and the athletes you coach. Because before we can learn how to process nerves, we have to first recognize that they belong in the process.