Overcoming nervousness is part of the sports experience

Tiger Woods said in a recent interview he's always nervous when he's playing golf.

Tiger Woods?

Nervous?

Why?

The guys he plays against should be nervous.

Tiger The Terminator should be relaxed when he tees off.

I guess you can look calm on the outside but still have butterflies inside even when you're the greatest golfer in the world and so focused on perfection.

If somebody with the enormous talent of Woods gets nervous, that should tell every young athlete that it's OK to have pregame jitters. That's normal.

When I ran my first race in high school track as a freshman, I was nervous.

When I ran my last race in high school track as a senior, I was nervous.

Maybe it wasn't quite as bad as that freshman year, but my stomach was still churning as I lined up in the blocks or prepared to take the handoff in a relay.

It was the same feeling when I made my debut as an emcee at some Daily Herald sports function or had to speak to any group.

I was so nervous in those early appearances that my knees seemed to turn to jelly and I could swear my spine was made of water.

That's not uncommon. Some say speaking in front of a group is the No. 1 human fear in life and death is No. 2.

With that in mind, comedian Jerry Seinfeld says this means if you go to a funeral, you're better off in the casket than giving the eulogy.

Today, I've never seen a microphone I didn't like. I actually enjoy those duties.

Parents can help their young athlete and actually give the child permission to be nervous.

Kids worry that they are different or not as good as the other kids. They feel, "If I mess up, everyone will think I'm stupid."

Let your child know that being nervous is a normal response to a performance situation. Every athlete must learn to work through the fear, the nervousness.

Overcoming nervousness is a part of the sports experience.

Of course, the girls playing in this weekend's Class 3A and Class 4A state basketball tournament at Redbird Arena in Normal will be nervous.

I say, "Enjoy it!" It's a universal and natural reaction.

I think it's important to keep your expectations high. That keeps you motivated and alert.

If you stop feeling the butterflies, you seldom have an outstanding performance because you're not pushing yourself toward improvement as hard as you could be.

The key is to not let this feeling distract you but to recognize it, accept it, and try to use it to your best advantage.

Nervousness is not necessarily based on your personality or confidence.

Your body is anticipating rigorous physical activity, and its chemistry changes.

It's OK to be nervous before competition, but it's just as important to be able to acknowledge this state of mind and try to put it to better use.

Consider the alternatives as a young athlete.

You certainly won't be nervous if you aren't in any big events, your performance doesn't matter to you or anyone else, and nothing really excites you.

Would you rather have your nerves dull or numb?

The nervousness, that adrenaline, tells you that all systems are in operating order.

I have a suggestion if you feel nervousness is totally consuming you as a young athlete and you just can't function properly.

Why don't you go to one of our hospitals and stand outside or visit the lobby for a few minutes?

Think about all those people inside that hospital who would love to trade places with you.

You have a simple game to play.

There isn't any comparison.

Anyone in that hospital would willingly jump out of bed and trade places with the nervous high school athlete.

They would think how lucky you are to have that body, that ability, that opportunity.

Your nervousness should be welcomed because it indicates your state in life is a good one, and that you have the freedom, the luxury, to be concerned about sports.

How do you deal with nervousness as a young athlete?

Be grateful for it.

Absorb it.

Glory in it.

I think it's one of the best parts of the entire high school sports experience.