Do I Have A Fear Of Failure In Sports?

Are you afraid to embarrass yourself in front of others if you don't perform well?

Are you afraid of being rejected, losing respect, or not gaining approval?

Do you experience a fear of losing a match, game, or race?

Are you afraid that putting in the effort results in nothing (i.e., not getting the "payoff" or not playing to your potential)?

Are you afraid of making mistakes after having worked so hard?

Do you have a fear of negative social evaluation?

Are you afraid of not meeting others' expectations?

Are you afraid of letting others (e.g., coaches, teammates, parents) down?

Based on your answers, it is unlikely that you have a fear of failure in sports. Athletes can develop a fear of failure when they are afraid of not obtaining what they worked for, such as winning a championship. Athletes who are tense often have a fair of messing up. Sometimes, they try too hard, which make them get in their own way. Luckily, in your case, you don’t have a fear of failure in sports.

Based on your answers, you are displaying some signs of a fear of failure in your sports. A fear of failure often comes with high expectations, a strong desire to succeed, being overly worried about results, anxiety, and caring too much about what others think. Also, fear of failure is often linked to social approval, as these athletes have a fear of letting others down by not meeting others’ expectations. It may be useful to start focusing on the right things: success instead of avoiding failure, performing efficiently instead of perfectly. Trust your own skills and let go of anxious feelings.

Based on your answers, you are displaying the signs typically seen among athletes who have a fear of failure. It may be important to understand what exactly you are afraid of and address this problem. Besides, make sure to focus on success, rather than worrying about failing. You can do that for example by visualizing a good result before they execute it. Also, learn to perform efficiently, not perfectly. Mistakes are part of sports. Make sure to trust your own skills, to play more freely and getting rid of anxious feelings that make you tighten up.