Self-Esteem in Sport: How Amateurs and Professionals Cope

A person’s psychological and emotional state largely depends on how they look in the mirror and how they feel physically. A toned body boosts confidence, improves self-esteem and provides motivation.

What is self-esteem

Self-esteem is an individual’s assessment of their own significance, competence, demand, popularity and prospects. In a positive sense, it is self-acceptance, a sober view of all the pros and cons, and the ability to apply them in life.

It is one of the psychological components of success (or lack thereof), which complement physical factors such as natural talent, a competent approach to development, and regular practice or training.

A person with healthy self-esteem is more likely to succeed and achieve self-fulfilment in their profession, sports, and relationships. They take a sober view of strengths and weaknesses (not only their own), are more empathetic and emotionally stable.

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What makes up self-esteem

Self-esteem is formed in childhood by the environment, upbringing, and experience, but it is fluid and capable of change. Throughout life (this is clearly visible in sports), it is influenced by:

• personal achievements;
• feedback from significant authority figures (parents, coaches);
• competition, comparison with others;
• personality traits.

How sport affects self-esteem

Self-esteem is a powerful tool that can either improve performance or ruin all your hard work. It plays a big role in sport.

‘People are constantly faced with evaluations of their results, physical abilities, and achievements by coaches, referees, teammates, and spectators. By filtering all of this through an “internal filter”, they need to form a correct perception of themselves,’ noted Evgeny Cherepanov.

Without a competent approach, this can become an obstacle to achieving one’s goals.

Victories, progress, and meeting standards are a direct source of self-confidence. But if an athlete is fixated only on the result, every loss is perceived as a personal failure.

The words of coaches, parents, and other authority figures play a big role (especially for children and adolescents). If they are supportive and point out growth (even after a defeat), self-esteem is strengthened, but if they focus only on mistakes, self-confidence is undermined.

Comparing yourself to leaders and stronger competitors can devalue your own strengths and achievements, while focusing on personal progress and comparing yourself to who you were yesterday will be beneficial.

“When enrolling your child in a sports club, consider whether it is their wish. The foundation of self-esteem is laid by parents and then by the coach, whose selection should also be approached with care. Observe how they train children and how they feel when they leave the class — inspired or demoralised. A child’s feelings and emotions can either fill them with joy or destroy them.”

Adult sports enthusiasts can also benefit from the help of a coach. Their tasks are to correctly assess the initial form, set goals and develop an optimal training programme, track results and maintain motivation. Such a tandem is aimed at success and raising self-esteem. People will come to classes with enthusiasm and leave even more inspired and refreshed, having shed the burden of problems, fatigue, excess weight, and the ‘stress hormone’ cortisol.

To maintain high self-esteem, you need the right environment and a sober view of your own strengths, weaknesses, and results. The desire to be the best and to be yourself are two paths, only one of which leads to long-term happiness.