I think everyone on the list would agree that external parental
pressure is note appropriate at that age.  Ben K. and I are not
talking about that kind of pressure.  Ben's original  wording was "a
pressure situation" and competing at any level is composed of pressure
situations, just as taking an academic test, whether it be spelling in
second grade, multiplication tables in third grade, or Calculus III in
junior year of highschool (or college), is a pressure situation. 
Nervousness helps create the pressure, as does the desire to perform
well, as does the fact that you don't have the opportunity for a do
over, as does not wanting to look like a fool in front of your
classmates or teamates.

--Matt K.

On 9/2/05, McCusker, Brad <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
> Who said nervousness? I commented on "pressure", not nervousness.
> 
> Pressure is entirely different from nervousness.  There can (and I argue
> for a child should) be no pressure at all and a human might still feel
> nervous. Agreed, that is OK - in fact if a racer isn't feeling some
> degree of nervousness at the start gate, I think something *might* be
> wrong.  But that is not pressure.  And an 8 year old first year racer
> should not be feeling pressure.
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Vermont Skiing Discussion and Snow Reports
> [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Matthew Kulas
> Sent: Friday, September 02, 2005 3:11 PM
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: Re: [SKIVT-L] Race Equipment
> 
> Not at all.  You were never nervous the first time you played on a
> baseball team?  For that matter, you were never in a pressure
> situation while playing Small Fry or Little League or whatever?  You
> were never nervous the first time you took swim lessons?  Or, for that
> matter, the first time you skied?
> 
> Pressure, nervousness are completely natural and healthy emotions,
> regardless of age--it's part of life.
> 
> --Matt K.
> 
> On 9/1/05, McCusker, Brad <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
> >
> > If she is facing pressure, there is something wrong.  Very, very
> wrong.
> 
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