Fear of failure and fear of disappointing coaches, teammates and parents can play a big role in pre-game butterflies. And the pressure of performing well for the fans is not the most calming thing, either.  It's important to keep in mind there is a difference between good pre-game nerves, which make an athlete excited for the contest ahead, and debilitating nervousness that negatively effects performance. 

Negative Pre Game Jitters
When young athletes experience negative pre-game jitters they can become irritable, experience stomachaches and might feel drained or exhausted.  Nervousness is an inescapable element of any competitive sport, but with understanding and determination, an athlete can harness their nervousness into the kind of energy that wins games.

Some common symptoms of nervousness are:

• Excessive sweating
• Irritability
• Fidgeting and inability to sit still
• Easily confused
• Dry mouth
• Inability to concentrate

According to Debbie Mandel, a stress management expert, nervousness hurts young athletes’ confidence and undermines their overall experience in sports.  Mandel draws a distinction between bad nervousness, which she calls chronic, and good pre-game jitters, which are acute. According to her, chronic nervousness can "zap a young athletes" energy and vitality." 

Positive Pre Game Jitters
It's normal for young athletes to have butterflies before a game. If a player is experiencing positive or acute pre-game jitters, their athletic performance can actually be better.

According to Debbie Mandel, pre-game jitters can help to jumpstart an athlete’s performance. She says that good stress can help young athletes focus. When an athlete experiences good pre-game jitters, it elevates their desire to do well and can energize their performance.

Athletes need to remember that nervousness is a part of the game and using the following strategies can help them deal with it:

• Defeat Self-doubt
• Do not psych yourself out
• Practice with athletes that are better than you
• Keep a positive state of mind
• Establish a pre-game routine
• Do not give up on yourself