DON’TSWEAT

GAME-TIMESTRESS

 The Stats onGame-Time Stress• TV Talk: When watching their favorite

team play, 71 percent of everyday 

athletes admit they talk back/yell at the

TV to relieve stress.

• Child’s Play: Sixty-six percent of 

everyday athletes agree competing in

sporting events/competitions is more

stressful than watching their favorite

team play. However, of adult athletes

with children, 52 percent agree watching

their child play competitive sports is

more stressful than actually competing.

• Battle of the Sexes:Female athletes are

more likely than male athletes to

experience stress from themselves (81

percent vs. 73 percent), whereas men are

more likely to feel pressure from

teammates (29 percent vs. 19 percent).

• Pre-Game Stress: Eighty-four percent

of athletes admit they get anxious

waiting for the sporting event to begin.

• Pressure’s On: Everyday athletes who

play football (61 percent) or basketball

(56 percent) are more likely to feel

pressure to win than other athletes.

DR.COHN’STOPTIPS to Help Athletes RelieveStress Before the Game:1. Concentrate on your preparation for the game,

not the outcome. Stress comes from worryingabout winning or losing.

2. Trust your practice and preparation. Confidentathletes don’t feel stressed – they feel well-prepared.

3. Focus on what’s under your control, not what’s beyond yourcontrol. You control your thoughts and performance, not whatothers do or say.

4. Embrace your pre-game butterflies. Your body is signaling you’reready to compete.

ECES

Whether you’re a member of 

the office basketball league or

attempting your first 5K,

preparing for the big event is sure

to bring a sense of excitement. For

many athletes, however, this

experience can be a nerve-

wracking one as well. In fact, one-

third of everyday athletes surveyed

admit preparing for an athletic

event is more stressful than a trip

to the dentist’s office.1

Additionally, preparing for an

athletic event is more stressful for

everyday athletes than public

speaking and being late to an

important meeting, according to a

recent survey by Wrigley’s

Doublemint® gum.

Chew More, Stress Less

One way athletes are combating

stress, both on and off the field, is

by chewing gum. “It’s common for

athletes to experience pre-game

anxiety, such as feeling butterflies

in their stomachs. Focusing your

mind on the present moment by 

chewing gum, listening to your

favorite music or warming up

 your jump shot can help you relax

and boost your confidence so you

can perform your best,” says

Patrick Cohn, Ph.D., sports

psychology expert and founder of 

Peak Performance Sports.

Get the Stats

The survey indicates that 67

percent of everyday athletes who

chew gum say they chew gum to

relieve stress for a sporting event

and 59 percent of everyday 

athletes who chew gum admit that

they do so when they need to focus

on a competition. These athletes’

testimonials further emphasize

recent research findings that the

use of chewing gum can help

reduce stress, improve alertness

and relieve anxiety.2,3,4

With over 80 percent of athletes

looking for ways to combat stress,

Doublemint gum could be just the

edge you need when you’re starting

to feel stressed on game day.

1 Wrigley Athlete Study . StrategyOne. September 2008 – Survey of 1,000 everyday athletes(adults ages 21-34 involved in intramural or amateur sports organizations, non-professional

races, tennis or golf.) Statistic based on those who chew gum.2 Scholey, Andrew. An investigation into the effects of gum chewing on mood and cortisollevels during psychological stress.10th International Congress of Behavioral Medicine 

For more informationabout the survey and thebenefits of chewing, visit

 www.wrigleygumisgood.com.

Four Ways to HelpPrepare for the Big Game1. Catch Some Zzzz’s: It’s important to

get seven-to-eight hours of sleep the

night before a sporting event. This is

the perfect amount of time for your

body to recharge. If you sleep more

than eight hours, your body will start

another sleep cycle and you’ll wake up

groggy.

2. Visualize Success: Taking two minutes

a day to visualize your goal can give

 you an edge by helping you to

anticipate the possible outcomes of a

few key plays. If you’re feeling pre-

game anxiety, chew Doublemint gum

to help stress less and rebuild the

confidence you need to succeed.

3. Look Good, Play Well: Dress

appropriately for the game to help

maximize performance; make sure

 your shoes provide enough support to

avoid injury and your attire allows a

full range of motion.

4. The Early Bird Special: Arrive at the

venue early to give you plenty of time

to warm-up and review plays so you’re

relaxed when the clock starts. This also

demonstrates commitment to your

team.

5. Many of the athletes I coach are looking for ways to limit pre-gamestressors. Try chewing gum. Research shows chewing gum canreduce stress and help improve focus and concentration.2,3,4

levels during psychological stress.10th International Congress of Behavioral Medicine .

Tokyo, Japan. August 2008.3 Sasaki A. "Influence of mastication on the amount of hemoglobin in human brain tissue."

Journal of Stomatological Society . 2001; 68(1): 72-81.4 Yue Z, Huang L, Zhou X. "Regional brain activities during gum chewing."Psychological 

Science 2006 ; 29:1153-1156.

© 2008 Wm. Wrigley Jr. Company. All Rights Reserved. Wrigley’sDesign, Doublemint and all affiliated designs are trademarks of the

Wm. Wrigley Jr.Company.