Coach Williams stood at the edge of the court, watching her players warm up. She could see that Jayden was nervous. His shots kept bouncing off the rim, and he kept glancing at the crowd filling the bleachers. What Jayden didn't realize was that his nerves were actually a good sign. They meant he cared about doing well.
From Jayden's perspective, everything felt wrong. His hands were sweaty, his heart raced, and he was certain everyone was watching him miss those shots. He thought about the last championship game two years ago, when he'd missed the final free throw. That memory made his stomach twist.
The referee blew the whistle. Coach Williams called her team together. She saw Jayden hanging back, his eyes fixed on the floor.
"Jayden," she said firmly, "look at me."
He raised his eyes reluctantly.
"You've practiced this a thousand times. Your body knows what to do. Trust it." She patted his shoulder. "Those butterflies in your stomach? That's just energy waiting to be used."
Jayden didn't feel convinced, but he nodded anyway. Coach Williams smiled slightly. She knew something Jayden hadn't figured out yet: he was ready for this moment. She'd watched him grow all season. Now she just had to wait for him to believe it too.