Take a deep breath, and try to emotionally ignore this information. If you let your initial impressions intimidate you, you are freely giving your opponent an advantage before the contest even begins. Instead, focus your concentration on yourself and your game preparation. Take care of the things you can control.
Once a game begins, you will often find that many of the apparent advantages your opponent holds over you are mere illusion. Although physically impressive and athletic, your opponent may not understand how to play the game. He or she may also lack a competitive character that equals yours. For example, the tennis player, owner of multiple racquets (in plastic wrap) and beautiful ground strokes, may also possess a game that falls apart at the first sign of pressure. You will encounter many situations where appearances don’t match actual ability. Do not put your opponent in the winner’s circle or assume you have some inherent disadvantage based on appearances.
There are times when you are the underdog—contests where your fundamental talent and skills are inferior to your opponents. But one of the attractive qualities of sports is that a lesser opponent can rise up and sometimes beat a more talented opponent. You may play above your typical performance level and your opponent may play below their capability. The way in which your abilities and talent match up against your opponent’s may also work to your advantage. As Chris Berman, the popular ESPN sportscaster, often says, “That’s why they play the game.”
What seems impossible is sometimes possible. One of the most amazing examples of an athlete performing above their apparent talent level happened in the 1968 Olympics when a long jumper named Bob Beamon won the gold medal. In a track event where the world record was regularly broken by a couple of inches, Bob Beamon jumped 29 ft. 2 ½ inches, 21 ¾ inches better than the prior world record. Don’t underestimate your possibilities to perform at a higher level when challenged.
One of my best moments in sports came in a high school tennis doubles match. My partner (Terry) and I were facing the first and second singles players from a nearby school, and the winner would qualify for the sectionals tournament. We were the clear underdogs. Our opponents walked out onto their home court, dressed like Roger Federer, each carrying two of the best tennis racquets of that time. They were confident, relaxed, and looked every bit the product of many tennis lessons and year-round play. For our part, Terry and I had decent strokes and net games, but we depended more on our general athleticism than grooved groundstrokes.
As the match began, our opponents quickly asserted their dominance and became even more confident—joking and carrying on a manner that suggested disrespect for us. After losing the first set, I remember becoming mad at both our play and our opponent’s casual attitude. I turned to Terry and let him know that it was time for us to start playing up to our ability. We began to run down every shot, keeping the ball in play, and letting our opponent’s overly confident attitude catch up to them. Slowly, the points started going our way. My play became more aggressive and confident, and I let my opponents know that I was challenging them to stand up and “show me what they had.” As the tide turned, they were unable to recapture their smooth strokes and high level of play. As often happens when the momentum of a game shifts, they began to feel the pressure. We beat them convincingly in the third set to win the match.
Others’ expectations or apparent mismatches in talent are sometimes stacked against you. Instead of accepting your “paper” disadvantage, relish these challenges and opportunities to succeed. You may create a proud memory that lasts a lifetime.
Copyright 2009-2012 Jeffrey S. Rhoads; All Rights Reserved
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