Resources tagged as "Pressure"
Competing with Superstars
Apr 9th, 2010
"Tiger Woods is such a dominating golfer that his presence in a tournament can make everyone else play significantly worse. Because his competitors expect him to win, they end up losing; success becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy."
Competition expert Jennifer Brown argues that this superstar effect de-motivates athletes in almost all forms of competition. The presence of a superstar makes other competitors nervous, and they over-analyze actions better performed on auto-pilot.
By IntelliSport
Don't Choke
Feb 6th, 2010
Why do some athletes choke under pressure, while others thrive? Mark Otten from Cal State Northridge may have the answer. Otten has shown that when pressure causes athletes to “reinvest” attention in a task (i.e. over-think), anxiety increases. This anxiety results in higher self-consciousness and impairs performance. However, increased feelings of control under pressure, or confidence in one's ability to determine outcomes, do improve performance.
By IntelliSport
Proper Perfectionism
Jan 21st, 2010
Athletes are often perfectionists. However, there are two main types of perfectionism, one good and one bad. The good form of perfectionism is embodied by a self-oriented desire to maintain high personal standards. The bad form of perfectionism is embodied by a fear of failure or mistakes, and often arises when an athlete is sensitive to coaching or parental expectations, criticisms, or doubts. Predictably, the good form of perfectionism leads to improved athletic performance and effective management of high-pressure situations. The bad form of perfectionism leads to worse athletic performance, poor handling of pressure, and burnout. Coaches and parents should encourage the good form of perfectionism in all athletes, and should be sensitive to placing too much pressure on athletes who tend toward the bad form of perfectionism. Dr.’s Sam Sagar and Joachim Stoeber recently explored these ideas in the Journal of Sport and Exercise Psychology.
By IntelliSport
Clutch Performances
Sep 22nd, 2009
This article outlines sports psychology research which indicates that athletes who perform their best in critical situations engage in structured mental performance training at least 18 months prior to the competition. Long term mental training is a critical element to preparing athletes to perform their best when they most need it.
The article explains the three critical elements of an effective long-term mental training program: (a) increasing awareness, (b) developing consistent pre-performance routines, and (c) simulating the conditions of competition during practice and training.
Increased awareness will help athletes understand what thought patterns and feelings are associated with their best performances. Coaches may help their athletes increase their awareness by prompting them to reflect upon past performances. A sample “competitive reflections” worksheet for athletes is attached below.
Developing consistent pre-performance routines helps athletes to feel comfortable in situations leading up to pressure-packed competitions, making it more likely that they will stick to their normal thoughts and feelings. Pre-performance routines develop the mental toughness needed to thrive in a pressurized environment. Coaches can help athletes develop pre-performance routines through communication techniques that are explained in this article.
Simulating the conditions of competition during practice or training is the most effective way to help athletes get accustomed to the challenges they will face during critical situations. The strongest source of confidence in any situation is a successful previous performance in that situation. While creating an exact simulation of the Olympic Games or the Super Bowl may be impossible, certain elements of any high-pressure performance situation can be simulated. This article explains how to create effective simulations so athletes are more confident they will be able to handle the real challenge when it presents itself.
By Dr. Dan Gould (with Kevin Blue)