Some athletes attempt to reduce this stress by using alcohol and other drugs to cope. Others are not aware of the pressures they feel and develop physical and emotional problems. Many athletes learn ways to recognize pressures of athletic competition and use relaxation, self-talk, support from friends and family, and other strategies to cope effectively. You will probably recognize the following concerns commonly facing athletes. Athletes are very visible and vulnerable to criticism from fans, coaches, and teammates.
Most people go to school or work and work privately on projects, assignments or other tasks.
Their work is judged by a teacher or superior and perhaps a small group of colleagues or fellow students. Errors are noted and corrected in a fairly private system. Usually a person has an opportunity to correct a mistake and go on with the next task. At some levels of competition, the news media also observes the performance and writes or broadcasts news about the athlete's performance. There are few opportunities for an athlete to correct a mistake until the next play or contest.