Confidence and Pressure
How Do I Handle Playing Against a Friend or Former Teammate?
Rhema Adelaja · National Champion & 4x DUX
Compete fully, then be friends again. Agree before the game that you will both try your hardest. Keep teasing light and kind. Encourage each other before and after, and stay in touch between games. A friend is not your enemy, and a former teammate is still part of your team.
The answer
- Stay in touch outside the sport. Calls, texts and checking each other's results keep a friendship going even when you play for different teams.
- Talk to each other about school and sport. You face the same pressures, so you can ease stress and learn from each other.
- Keep the rivalry friendly. Light bragging and teasing can push you both to work harder, as long as you keep mutual respect.
- Agree before the game that you will both try your hardest. Playing at half strength to be nice helps neither of you.
- Remember that a former teammate stays part of your team. Encourage them before and after the game.
- After the game, ask what happened, what was in your control, what you learned and what the next action is. Do that whether you won or lost.
For information only. This is general information for student-athletes, not medical, legal, financial or professional advice. Talk to a qualified professional about your own situation. Terms
Rules and amounts change. Check the official source before you act. Last checked: 31 October 2026.