By Thierry Verviers
Every coach has seen it: with young players, the technique is there—but the mind collapses when pressure rises.
A 2025 study on athletes aged 16 to 19 confirms exactly what we witness daily on the court: mental anxiety weighs far more heavily than physical anxiety in young competitors.
What the Study Reveals
Researchers evaluated 121 youth table tennis players competing at the national level. Here’s what they found:
- Somatic Anxiety (the body): Low.
Their bodies don’t freeze; the physical symptoms aren’t the issue. - Cognitive Anxiety (the mind): Moderate.
Negative thoughts, doubts, and fear of failure are the true obstacle. - Self-Confidence: Moderate.
A level that can be significantly improved with proper intervention.
Conclusion:
Young players lose not because of shaky legs or a rapid heartbeat, but because of the mental “hamster wheel” that blocks them from executing what they already know.
Why This Matters for Coaches
This study forces us to rethink our priorities:
1. The real work is mental.
Young athletes need coaches who guide their inner dialogue—not just their forehand technique.
2. Confidence is trainable.
With self-confidence at only a moderate level, there is enormous room for growth.
And as confidence rises, anxiety naturally decreases.
3. Mental training is missing.
A striking statistic: 67% of players had never received any formal mental-skills training.
This is a massive missed opportunity for development.
Three Practical Tools to Reduce Cognitive Anxiety
Here are three simple, coach-friendly interventions that make a real difference:
1. Process Goals
Shift from outcome goals (“I want to win”) to controllable goals (“I focus on my first attack”).
This anchors players in the present and reduces panic.
2. Reframing
Before each match, ask players to write one negative thought:
“I must not miss.”
Then transform it into a positive action:
“I focus on my timing.”
This rewires the brain away from fear and toward execution.
3. The Reset Routine
After a lost point:
3 deep breaths + a key phrase (“I stick to my plan”).
This breaks the cognitive spiral—the mental hamster wheel.
A Quick Note on Girls vs. Boys
The study found that girls show slightly higher cognitive anxiety on average.
This doesn’t require a different training program—but it does call for more open conversation about pressure, expectations, and emotional cues.
For Coaches Who Want to Go Further
If your club wants to build a structured mental-skills program, this research provides an excellent foundation.
Mental conditioning is not a luxury; it is a competitive necessity.
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