ABSTRACT
The athletes then go into each competition with the aim of nailing a skill they have been working on, pushing through when they want to quit or wanting to learn something about themselves as an athlete so they can improve their performances in future. Focusing on the process goals should feel very achievable but once the athlete enters the competition environment they become surrounded by other athletes, friends or family and their own inner voice reminding them they are in a competition and comparison takes over. Supporting athletes to build resources and develop coping mechanisms will be a worthwhile objective as it increases their enjoyment of the competition process and will improve their overall performance. There are many potential stressors that athletes will come across prior to competition. A way to help athletes reduce the amount they compare and therefore reduce the level of threat they feel is to talk to them about who they are comparing themselves with.
