Women athletes are often more attuned than men to their anxieties and to outside stressors. Break the negative train of thought by focusing on positive technical goals and picturing them mentally. Explode out of the blocks' and picture himself doing so. Avoid negative phrasing, George emphasizes. A gymnast who has to keep straight legs should never tell herself 'Don't bend the knees,' because if she does, her internal vision is of bent knees and her body is likely to follow.
Coaches often misread players' physical signals.
However, these behaviors are common symptoms of over-arousal. The muscles tense, we become slow and clumsy, breathing gets shallow and we yawn for more oxygen.