--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If you're not just a little bit nervous…" description: "\"If you're not just a little bit nervous before a match, you probably don't have the expectations of yourself that you should have.\" — Hale Irwin" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/97f/hale-irwin-22939_expectations_if-you-re-not-just-a-little-bit-nervous_1876662.png" --- # If you're not just a little bit nervous before a match… ![“If you're not just a little bit nervous before a match, you probably don't have the expectations of yourself that you should have.” quote by Hale Irwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/97f/hale-irwin-22939_expectations_if-you-re-not-just-a-little-bit-nervous_1876662.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/97f/hale-irwin-22939_expectations_if-you-re-not-just-a-little-bit-nervous_1876662.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/97f/hale-irwin-22939_expectations_if-you-re-not-just-a-little-bit-nervous_1876662.png) > “If you're not just a little bit nervous before a match, you probably don't have the expectations of yourself that you should have.” [Hale Irwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hale-irwin/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A modest level of nervousness before competition signals healthy self‑expectations and readiness to perform. **In simple terms:** A little anxiety shows you care and expect to do well. Key Takeaway Embrace nerves as a sign of commitment. Themes sports psychology performance expectations growth Mood motivational reflective Type sports psychological When to use this quote - pre‑match routines - coaching sessions - mental training - goal setting Key Concepts self‑efficacy motivation mindset Questions to Reflect On - What strategies help you channel nerves? - How do expectations shape your preparation? A Different Perspective Too much anxiety can impair focus and performance. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Bit Nervous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bit-nervous/) [Expectations](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/expectations/) [Little bit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/little-bit/) [Littles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/littles/) [Match Probably](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/match-probably-2623861/) [Nervous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nervous/) [Nervous Match](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nervous-match-2070914/) [Should](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/should/) ## Related quotes > [I was a little nervous at my first match, but I think I did OK. I went home after the match and watched the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kane/i-was-a-little-nervous-at-my-first-match-but-i-think-i-did-ok-i-went/) [Kane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kane/) > [I get nervous every match, before the match especially. But I think it's a good sign. That means you want to win.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kei-nishikori/i-get-nervous-every-match-before-the-match-especially-but-i-think-it/) [Kei Nishikori](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kei-nishikori/) > [There is no point making ourselves nervous before a match.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-mignolet/there-is-no-point-making-ourselves-nervous-before-a-match/) [Simon Mignolet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-mignolet/) > [It's a safe bet most players would get nervous before a match. I do, too, but it's more excitement and more just wanting to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johanna-konta/it-s-a-safe-bet-most-players-would-get-nervous-before-a-match-i-do/) [Johanna Konta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johanna-konta/) > [I don't get nervous before the match. I try to act the same and stay normal right before entrance. I don't want to do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shinsuke-nakamura/i-don-t-get-nervous-before-the-match-i-try-to-act-the-same-and-stay/) [Shinsuke Nakamura](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shinsuke-nakamura/) > [I still do get a little bit nervous at the beginning of Maiden tours but that's mainly because of the new material.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-harris/i-still-do-get-a-little-bit-nervous-at-the-beginning-of-maiden-tours/) [Steve Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-harris/) > [I'm actually constantly a bit nervous because I never want to disappoint anyone, you know?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/juno-temple/i-m-actually-constantly-a-bit-nervous-because-i-never-want-to/) [Juno Temple](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/juno-temple/) > [Everyone will clearly be a bit nervous and scared before going onstage. But what I do is just remember that this is my passion.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-gonzalez/everyone-will-clearly-be-a-bit-nervous-and-scared-before-going/) [Anthony Gonzalez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-gonzalez/) > [Working in network sitcom arenas, whenever you decide to depart from the norm and tell a story that's not typical, I think you're always…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nahnatchka-khan/working-in-network-sitcom-arenas-whenever-you-decide-to-depart-from/) [Nahnatchka Khan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nahnatchka-khan/) > [For some reason, when I get to the 200m, I'm always a little bit nervous.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/usain-bolt/for-some-reason-when-i-get-to-the-200m-i-m-always-a-little-bit-nervous/) [Usain Bolt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/usain-bolt/) > [Being home alone at night makes me a bit nervous. If I'm at home alone, I have to sleep on the sofa - I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rafael-nadal/being-home-alone-at-night-makes-me-a-bit-nervous-if-i-m-at-home-alone/) [Rafael Nadal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rafael-nadal/) > [“I have to say, I was a bit nervous about picking up the woman Travis Maddox is in love with…from his apartment. You don’t…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamie-mcguire/i-have-to-say-i-was-a-bit-nervous-about-picking-up-the-woman-travis/) [Jamie McGuire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamie-mcguire/) > [What makes us a bit nervous is, in this instant age, to release something that might take more than one listen. Where everything is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-martin/what-makes-us-a-bit-nervous-is-in-this-instant-age-to-release/) [Chris Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-martin/) > [I'm a little bit nervous for us with all of this electronically generated new hyper-space that we've moved into, where not only people but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-jarreau/i-m-a-little-bit-nervous-for-us-with-all-of-this-electronically/) [Al Jarreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-jarreau/) > [I get a bit nervous because I just want the show to go well. I think you always have to be a little bit…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-poehler/i-get-a-bit-nervous-because-i-just-want-the-show-to-go-well-i-think/) [Amy Poehler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-poehler/) ## More by Hale Irwin > [I don't sleep well. I rehash everything in bed. The mind's still working.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hale-irwin/i-don-t-sleep-well-i-rehash-everything-in-bed-the-mind-s-still-working/) [Hale Irwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hale-irwin/) > [I can forgive the body breaking down. It's a little tougher to forgive that mental lapse.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hale-irwin/i-can-forgive-the-body-breaking-down-it-s-a-little-tougher-to-forgive/) [Hale Irwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hale-irwin/) > [New Zealand has a great reputation in America for golf.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hale-irwin/new-zealand-has-a-great-reputation-in-america-for-golf/) [Hale Irwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hale-irwin/) > [My dad was a good athlete. My mom had longevity. There were some athletic genes that certainly got passed down.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hale-irwin/my-dad-was-a-good-athlete-my-mom-had-longevity-there-were-some/) [Hale Irwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hale-irwin/) > [The positions I played in football, being a quarterback and a defensive back, you had to kind of have a little independent thinking.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hale-irwin/the-positions-i-played-in-football-being-a-quarterback-and-a/) [Hale Irwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hale-irwin/) > [You can talk about strategy all you want, but what really matters is resiliency.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hale-irwin/you-can-talk-about-strategy-all-you-want-but-what-really-matters-is/) [Hale Irwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hale-irwin/) > [Golf is the only-est sport. You're completely alone with every conceivable opportunity to defeat yourself. Golf brings out your assets and liabilities as a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hale-irwin/golf-is-the-only-est-sport-you-re-completely-alone-with-every/) [Hale Irwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hale-irwin/) > [People, in whatever walk of life, would be surprised if they just gave themselves a chance by believing in what they are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hale-irwin/people-in-whatever-walk-of-life-would-be-surprised-if-they-just-gave/) [Hale Irwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hale-irwin/) > [I never underestimate my opponent, but I never underestimate my talents.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hale-irwin/i-never-underestimate-my-opponent-but-i-never-underestimate-my-talents/) [Hale Irwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hale-irwin/) > [Feeling tired should almost never be an excuse, because your body has huge reserves of energy. But if you eat badly, stay out late,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hale-irwin/feeling-tired-should-almost-never-be-an-excuse-because-your-body-has/) [Hale Irwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hale-irwin/) > [On the PGA Tour, guys finish in the top 10, make a ton of money and think they're great players. In my era, you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hale-irwin/on-the-pga-tour-guys-finish-in-the-top-10-make-a-ton-of-money-and/) [Hale Irwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hale-irwin/) > [Do I want to tackle a 230-pound guy who's running like a deer? Heavens no, no one in their right mind would. But there…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hale-irwin/do-i-want-to-tackle-a-230-pound-guy-who-s-running-like-a-deer-heavens/) [Hale Irwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hale-irwin/) > [Early in my career, my 3-, 5- and 9-irons performed differently than my other irons. But I adapted and made them work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hale-irwin/early-in-my-career-my-3-5-and-9-irons-performed-differently-than-my/) [Hale Irwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hale-irwin/) > [It's a long, hard, difficult process to make it to a national championship.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hale-irwin/it-s-a-long-hard-difficult-process-to-make-it-to-a-national/) [Hale Irwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hale-irwin/) > [To be successful in anything, a person must always want to be better, not only than your opponent but better than your last performance.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hale-irwin/to-be-successful-in-anything-a-person-must-always-want-to-be-better/) [Hale Irwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hale-irwin/) [Explore all 26 Hale Irwin quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hale-irwin/) ## More Expectations quotes > [Balance suggests a perfect equilibrium. There is no such thing. That is a false expectation… There are going to be priorities and dimensions of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denise-morrison/balance-suggests-a-perfect-equilibrium-there-is-no-such-thing-that-is/) [Denise Morrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denise-morrison/) > [My mom had very low expectations for me, and she really had a point. I was a big problem at seventeen. If I had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alejandro-gonzalez-inarritu/my-mom-had-very-low-expectations-for-me-and-she-really-had-a-point-i/) [Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alejandro-gonzalez-inarritu/) > [I've long believed one of the mainsprings of our own liberty has been the widespread ownership of property among our people and the expectation…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/i-ve-long-believed-one-of-the-mainsprings-of-our-own-liberty-has-been/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [I say this all the time: I've always been really good at managing my expectations so that I'm not let down.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brett-young/i-say-this-all-the-time-i-ve-always-been-really-good-at-managing-my/) [Brett Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brett-young/) > [When Allah puts barakah (His blessings) in something, it will come beyond your expectations- never underestimate the power of one good deed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nouman-ali-khan/when-allah-puts-barakah-his-blessings-in-something-it-will-come/) [Nouman Ali Khan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nouman-ali-khan/) > [Keeping up with everybody's expectation is soooo hard!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naomi/keeping-up-with-everybody-s-expectation-is-soooo-hard/) [Naomi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naomi/) > [I recognize I am essentially a failed human being in the sense that I can't possibly live up to the expectations of an Almighty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/i-recognize-i-am-essentially-a-failed-human-being-in-the-sense-that-i/) [George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/) > [We're wired to expect the world to be brighter and more meaningful and more obviously interesting than it actually is. And when we realize…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lev-grossman/we-re-wired-to-expect-the-world-to-be-brighter-and-more-meaningful/) [Lev Grossman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lev-grossman/) > [“Does your reality match your expectations? If not it's time to change either your expectations or your reality.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-redhead/does-your-reality-match-your-expectations-if-not-it-s-time-to-change/) [Steven Redhead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-redhead/) > [Jesus' kingdom was not like the popular expectation. He used the phrase 'kingdom of God' with a different meaning. His kingdom was not of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-harpur/jesus-kingdom-was-not-like-the-popular-expectation-he-used-the-phrase/) [Tom Harpur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-harpur/) > [Disappointment contains an appointment for doing much better. High expectations mean your higher capacity and belief in abilities.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tasneem-hameed/disappointment-contains-an-appointment-for-doing-much-better-high/) [Tasneem Hameed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tasneem-hameed/) > [It's a good place when all you have is hope and not expectations.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/danny-boyle/it-s-a-good-place-when-all-you-have-is-hope-and-not-expectations/) [Danny Boyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/danny-boyle/) > [When we give from a place of love, rather than from a place of expectation, more usually comes back to us than we could…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-jeffers/when-we-give-from-a-place-of-love-rather-than-from-a-place-of/) [Susan Jeffers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-jeffers/) > [Everybody out there watches the show and has expectations of wanting to be an 'Idol', but we're going to teach them how much hard…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bo-bice/everybody-out-there-watches-the-show-and-has-expectations-of-wanting/) [Bo Bice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bo-bice/) > [When we fall utterly, something gathers us up. But our falling must be without reservation, without expectation, without hope, though not hopeless. You cant…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-housden/when-we-fall-utterly-something-gathers-us-up-but-our-falling-must-be/) [Roger Housden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-housden/) [Browse all 4,210 Expectations quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/expectations/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "If you're not just a little bit nervous before a match, you probably don't have the expectations of yourself that you should have.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Hale Irwin" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hale-irwin/if-you-re-not-just-a-little-bit-nervous-before-a-match-you-probably/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Expectations" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hale-irwin/if-you-re-not-just-a-little-bit-nervous-before-a-match-you-probably/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/97f/hale-irwin-22939_expectations_if-you-re-not-just-a-little-bit-nervous_1876662.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/97f/hale-irwin-22939_expectations_if-you-re-not-just-a-little-bit-nervous_1876662.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/97f/hale-irwin-22939_expectations_if-you-re-not-just-a-little-bit-nervous_1876662.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“If you're not just a little bit nervous before a match, you probably don't have the expectations of yourself…” — Hale Irwin", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Hale Irwin", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hale-irwin/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "If you're not just a little...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hale-irwin/if-you-re-not-just-a-little-bit-nervous-before-a-match-you-probably/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hale-irwin/if-you-re-not-just-a-little-bit-nervous-before-a-match-you-probably/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```