Confidence and Pressure
Mind and Reflection · Mindset
How do I stop comparing myself to my teammates?
Rhema Adelaja · National Champion & 4x DUX
Comparing yourself to a teammate puts your focus on a result that belongs partly to other people. Pressure is a focus problem, not a character problem. Move your focus to what is yours: your preparation, your actions and your response. Set process goals and return to them.
The answer
- Notice when you are comparing. Name what you are comparing: a time, a place in the team, a selection spot.
- Ask who owns it. Part of that result belongs to other people. What a teammate does is not yours to control.
- Write down what is yours: your preparation, your actions and your response.
- Turn those into process goals, things you can do whatever your teammate does.
- When your mind drifts back to a teammate, ask: what is the next action?
- If something is not working, do not just add effort. Find the exact leak first and fix that.
If comparing leaves you feeling low most days, tell a parent, a teacher or another adult you trust.
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: 12 October 2026.