Athlete Nerves - Mental Skills for managing nerves

Nerves can show up in all kinds of ways. Some athletes rush or get too aggressive. Others freeze, hesitate, play safe, or become so focused on not messing up that it becomes hard to perform.

Telling a young athlete to “calm down” or “just be confident” does not always give them something useful to do.

This 6-page printable mini playbook helps young athletes understand what nerves mean, recognize how nervous energy shows up for them, and build a simple plan for working with it.

Inside, your athlete will:

• Learn why nerves show up when something feels important

• Map how nerves usually affect their thoughts, body, and actions

• Decide whether their energy needs to be moved or steadied

• Notice the hidden rules making mistakes feel heavier

• Choose a Challenger, Anchor, or Appreciator Mindstance

• Build a plan using words, body tools, and action

• Practice using their new skills while nerves are still present

The goal is not to make nerves disappear.

The goal is to help athletes understand what their nervous energy needs and learn how to keep showing up with it.

The worksheets are sport-general and designed for young athletes across many different sports. It includes short explanations, kid-friendly prompts, checkboxes, writing spaces, and a simple practice tracker.

Your download includes:

• Full-color 6-page PDF

• Low-ink, printer-friendly 6-page PDF

Created by Cortnee White, Sport Therapist and Mental Performance Coach.

This is a digital product. No physical item will be shipped.

For educational and mental-performance purposes. This resource does not replace individualized medical or mental-health care.