Do you Handle Criticism as an Athlete Well?
How has negative criticism affected your athletic confidence in past athletic competitions?
Even though criticism can be helpful, it is also hurtful. Negative criticism can cause you to doubt your abilities as an athlete. It can destroy your confidence.
Negative comments from media, parents, teammates, coaches, and fans can sprout negative emotions such as anger and frustration. Athletes are criticized all the time
When you are playing at a high level, compliments and praise are heaped upon you. However, when you underperform or make costly mistakes, the naysayers and critics appear.
If you are not mentally skilled enough to handle negative criticism, you may give up altogether on pursuing your goals. Since negative criticism is unavoidable, you need to learn how to handle it effectively so it doesn’t hurt your confidence, focus, or performance.
You have several options to deal with negative criticism:
- Sift out the negative – When you receive negative criticism, determine if there is any beneficial information and disregard the rest.
- Take out the trash – If the criticism is unjust or merely insults, ignore it.
- Think big picture – Sometimes, you will underperform, and judgmental comments will come your way. Keep your eyes fixed on your ultimate objective.
Though you cannot control the actions of others, you can control how you respond. Focusing on what you can control is the hallmark of great athletes.
Carolina Panthers quarterback Bryce Young has received a lot of negative criticism from fans, sports commentators, and social media despite being in the NFL for less than two seasons.
Young was drafted first overall in the 2023 NFL Draft, along with the hype came high expectations. Young finished his rookie season with 2,877 yards, 11 touchdowns, and 10 interceptions, leading the Panthers to a 2–15 record.
After the Panthers lost their first two games of the 2024 season, a lot of negative criticism was directed at Young. Though Young acknowledged the heavy criticism, boos, and pressure, he stated his confidence remains high. Instead of focusing on the negative, Young is focused on the big picture.
YOUNG: “I understand the frustration [of the fans]. I know this city loves the Panthers. That passion is something I respect, and I share that same fire. We’re all disappointed, but this is part of the journey.”
Young has focused on putting in the work and developing his quarterback skills rather than dwelling on the losses and negative criticism.
YOUNG: “This is part of the process. There’s no growth without challenges. I’m committed to this team, and we’ll get better. We just have to stay the course.”
Negative criticism may hurt, but it doesn’t need to hurt your performance. Dealing with criticism requires understanding what you can control, maintaining a positive mindset, and tuning out extraneous noise.
When dealing with negative criticism, it is important to determine the good from the bad.
In other words, what information is beneficial, and what comments are trash? This insight will help you stay focused on positive steps you can take to improve your game
Related Sports Psychology Article
- How This Pro Manages Criticism
- How to Turn Negative Criticism into Motivation
- Helping Soccer Players Who are Self-Critical
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