Getting past the jitters and adrenaline

[fps_trucka]

Hi all, I'm trying to get into doing smash online and eventually competitively locally but have been facing a lot of anxiety in the process. My last couple of matches have been really close and have lost for some part due to some anxiety. I've been going through some jitters/fast heart beating from excitement when the games come really close which takes my attention off the game. Does anyone have any tips for things they do to try and remain calm during matches? Or any advice? I've been thinking about maybe playing some music but I don't really know if that will help. I'm assuming I'm not the only one who has this issue?

 

[ZaneHitsurugi]

Just keep playing and keep practicing. Eventually you'll get a grip.

 

[Marmotbro]

Be like me. Channel your adrenaline into unpredictability and confuse the enemy when you dsmash 4 times in a row and end up winning.

Not a good enough answer? Well for one, try to focus on controlling your breathing. another is stop panicking and living in the moment, have a game plan and stick with it. If that isn't your style of play, you could just practice a bunch and muscle memory through the jitters. Other then that, slow down and think, get some distance and let them approach if possible.


Playing some music will definitely help, I suggest you play songs that inspire confidence and make you feel badass, or some upbeat dance music. Make sure it is a jumpy tempo though, if you get really into the music like i do, slower songs will only make you play worse. Here's some of my favorites:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qIRc9KkCHME
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z5Cm6ECXnw8
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QyCr1FoKKXM

 

[Omar_25]

Just takes some time to get past the jitters. I specifically remember one of the first tournaments I went to I just could not stop shaking. My teeth were chattering, I was constantly tapping my heel on the ground, I was just so nervous at the time. But as time went on, I began to get more and more comfortable with my surroundings. I think an important thing is to just not take the game too seriously. Don't focus too much on winning, that's just going to make it worse. If you focus too much on winning, you end up super tense in those last stock situations. Definitely not the best state of mind to be in those moments, lol. Just kind of mess around until you get the hang of things. Playing friendlies with people (if you're going to a tournament) does wonders, from my experience.

Also, don't forget to have fun. This is a super important thing to have in mind. Oftentimes I feel like we forget this and get stuck in the competitive mindset of "I have to win!". At the end of the day, this really is just a game. Games are meant to be fun, not stressful, lol.

Hopefully this helps you in some way.

 

[fps_trucka]

Thank you all for the responses. As Marmotbro mentioned music does help and not having the "I have to win" mindset Omar_25 mentioned definitely helped. Hopefully it keeps getting better for me and appreciate it again guys.

 

[staindgrey]

In my experience? Stop moving.

When you're hyped up in a match, you get fidgety, and often times when the adrenaline is pumping you'll do a whole bunch of unnecessary things in your neutral game-- jumping and aerialing even though they're nowhere near you, for instance-- all because you aren't calm. You feel like you need to attack your opponent, right now, because your fight or flight has kicked in and you need immediate results.

But if you force your character to just stop moving, stand at the ready to shield/dodge/counter your opponent, that calms me down and allows me to assess the situation more clearly. At mid-to-low levels of play, people just kind of... attack. All the time. Pulling back, being defensive and allowing your opponent to come to you will both center your emotions and give you a more sustainable plan of attack.