Higher - Sports as stress buster can do wonders. It is why athletes are so relaxed and laid back after a game. But what is the scenario like before the competition or game day? It is safe to say the feelings are the exact opposite. For a lot of higher-sports athletes, the time leading up to the game is full of stress and performance anxiety. 

So, how do you eliminate the tension that is sure to affect athletic performance? By employing the following three steps:

• Be psychologically and physically prepared for the game. You can do so by arriving at the stadium or field with plenty of time to spare. When you are late for the event, you rush through warm-up and pre-event rituals which plant the initial seeds of stress. 
• It is hard to believe, but visualisation is the biggest trick in an athlete’s bag. Take a few minutes, empty your mind and then visualise yourself performing at top condition. Create a mental image of yourself doing all the right things and killing it in the game. Visualisation is a form of self-talk that when done right can profoundly change an athlete’s attitude and hence, outcome.
• Always have a strategy in place before you step onto the course, track, field, pitch, etc. Yes, you may need to react and change the plan as the game continues but never begin without a strategy.
• Accept what you can’t change. Jitters before every game are standard. Fighting them is useless. The body is preparing you by pumping adrenalin. It is not fear but a natural reaction of the body. So, accept it and move on. Focusing on it will not help rather, it may worsen the situation. Also, once you are in the game or activity, the feeling will fade away soon enough.