Choking, as defined in this article, refers to “a critical deterioration in skill execution leading to substandard performance that is caused by an elevation in anxiety levels under perceived pressure at a time when successful outcome is normally attainable by the athlete”. A point to take note of is that to date, researchers have not been able to entirely agree on an operational definition of ‘choking’. This can be seen where Mesagno, Marchant, and Morris (2009) defined choking as “the critical deterioration in the execution of habitual processes that results from an increase in anxiety under perceived pressure”. Although there are many definitions being proposed, what is critical is that the definitions all point in the same direction where a player who is experiencing choking is unsuccessful when he is typically supposed to be successful and this also occurs when the final result of the competition has yet to be determined.
2 models of choking were mentioned in this article:
i. Self-Focus Model
ii. Distraction Model
The self-focus model which was proposed by Baumeister (1984) stated that an increase in self-awareness and anxiety on being able to perform correctly results in choking. Further research mentioned in the article states that as an athlete increases his desire and motivation to perform well, he tends to be more conscious and self-aware of his own behaviours. This can be validated where Jackson et al. (2006) stated that “explicit monitoring may have a detrimental effect on performance when performers attempt to both consciously monitor and control movements”.
In the distraction model, the performance of an athlete decreases under pressure as he shifts his attention from cues which are crucial to his task to irrel...
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.... (2010). A comparison of different pre-performance routines as possible choking interventions. Journal of Applied Sport Psychology, 22(3), 343-360.
15. Nideffer, R. M. (1992). Psyched to win. Champaign, IL: Leisure Press.
16. Otten, M. P. (2007). Choking vs. clutch performance: A study of sport performance under pressure. ProQuest.
17. Sherikian, S. M. (2012). Dribble, bend your knees, shoot: the effect of a pre-shot routine on basketball free throw performance under pressure (Doctoral dissertation, CALIFORNIA STATE UNIVERSITY).
18. Wallace, H. M., Baumeister, R. F., & Vohs, K. D. (2005). Audience support and choking under pressure: A home disadvantage?. Journal of Sports Sciences, 23(4), 429-438.
19. Wrisberg, C. , & Pein, R. (1992). The preshot interval and free throw shooting accuracy: An exploratory investigation. The Sport Psychologist, 6(1), 14-23.
Due to the stressful and high pressure nature of this achievement context in academies, the question of how to ensure athletes realize their sporting potential without experiencing athletic burnout has become increasingly important (Isoard-Gautheur, Guillet-Ducas & Duda, 2012). Research into this process has highlighted various factors such as perfectionism (Lemyre, Hall & Roberts, 2008; Gould, Tuffey, Udry & Loehr, 1997) and stress-coping techniques (Coakley, 1992) as being important in athletic burnout, but has also shown certain motivational factors ( ) to play an influential ...
...ntial stressors when competing. According to Nicholls & Polman (2007), the capability to cope with stress plays a significant part in how well an athlete performs during and out of competition. In line with this research, the self-efficacy construct has been found to impact how an individual appraises a situation and the corresponding way in which they cope. Self-efficacy can be defined as an individual’s beliefs about their ability to attain a certain outcome which is further expressed in their views about their capacity to execute a specific behavior or task. Since stress is a consistent and defining variable in sports and life outside of sports, it is crucial that athletes develop ways to successfully cope with stress and effectively implement these methods in order to avoid negative effects in competition and in life (Nicholls, Polman, Levy, & Borkoles, 2010).
Walker, N., Thatcher, J., & Lavallee, D. (2007). Psychological responses to injury in competitive sport: a critical review. The Journal of The Royal Society for the Promotion of Health, 174-180.
...e you a great shooter. Although I suffered injuries in my past basketball career which earned me a basketball scholarship to play collegiate basketball, I am now more knowledgeable about my position. This knowledge has helped me reflect on myself and my experiences as a player transitioning to a coach. I believe it is important that I educate my players and teach them proper mechanics but also mental set. Acknowledge that the jump shot is more than a motion of physical ability and talent, it takes a great amount of thinking and implying the information you already know to what you learned. All coaches throughout the country regardless of their level should have knowledge of biomechanics and require there staff to also know the following information. This allows the opportunity for kids to learn the correct technique, prevent injuries, and transform them as a player.
Sports Psychology Today. Mental Edge Athletics, 4 Sept. 2012. Web. 28 Oct. 2013. Forde, Pat.
“The odds of a high school basketball player making it to the “next level” to play college basketball (DI, II, or III) is slim. In fact, only 3.4% of high school players go on to play college basketball. Taking it even further, only 1.2% of college basketball players go on to get drafted in the NBA” (Winters, 2016). There are two types of players in the game. There are the kids who play basketball because they are athletic, and all they are seeking to gain is the recognition and awards. They want to be known. Those players are self-centered, they do not play for the team, and generally don’t play because they love the game. These are the types of players who don’t usually go on to play at the next level. On the other hand, there are the players that absolutely dedicate their life to the game of basketball just because they love the game. That is what coaches are looking for in a player, and that is the kind of player I am striving to be.
Pressure is placed on athletes to perform better. The fierce competitive nature of the real sports world in with the peoples excellence has caused athletes to seek alternative means to ...
Emotion is a big part of the psychological affect on society. We want to give the reader a framework depicting how the mental training improve their performance. After the testing, the author found (Chris, 2014)There are a number of psychological factors that have the potential to negatively affect an athlete’s ability to perform optimally, for example,anxiety, nerves, poor concentration,and self-doubt (Chris, 2014). And the detrimental thoughts, attitudes also will affect the athlete’s ability. In here i want to talk more about the somatic anxiety. We know anxiety will cause many different physical condition and mental disease. This is very dangerous if we do not use correct methods to treat. One of
The value placed on the importance of winning in professional sports has hit an all-time high. The astronomical amount of money being spent in the entertainment field of athletics has dictated a win-at-all-costs mentality that has trickled all the way down to negatively affect our youngest athletes - the prepubescent. The athletic world has forever been exploiting our youth as a source of athletic potential, sacrificing the health, safety and welfare of these child-athletes to satiate the intense nationalistic pride of the country and more dishearteningly in the name of the Almighty Dollar. This has caused coaches and athletes to take drastic measures which are sometimes illegal and usually unethical in order to improve performance levels. One of the most controversial training practices center around the impact of strength training in prepubescent children.
Statsky also makes another faulty assumption, which is that competition is an adult imposition on the world of children’s play. She says in her article, “The primary goal of a professional athlete – winning – is not appropriate for children” (629). Children compete to win in the same way that adults do, and they do so on their own without any adult pressure. Common playground gam...
Sports psychology is an essential field of psychological study, which emphasizes the importance of performance enhancement through training your psychological and mental abilities. Sports psychology is a specialization within brain psychology and kinesiology and it seeks to understand psychological/mental factors that affect performance in sports, physical activity, and apply this knowledge in order to enhance individual and team performance. As we make advancements in science we grasp the increasing importance of the human mind, thus exponentially increasing the value and power of thought. As contrary to popular belief, every thought we think, and every word we say before a race/event can trigger a major effect upon your ending results, whether it may be positive or negative. It is thoughts that are conjured before an event that can make or break a race, thus putting the utmost of importance on self-affirmation and motivational thinking in the pre event stages of a race (or an event). The main aspects that play a considerable role in a successful athletic performance are motivation and self-efficacy.
Sports are often identified to have positive influences on many individuals. The sports industry is growing worldwide, especially the basketball industry, which is regarded in second place behind football. The global prevalence of basketball is unquestionable, especially among the young. Basketball is a dynamic team sport that involves a pattern of alternating, active, and skilled movement activities. There are compound demands that require a mixture of individual skills, team plays, strategies, and motivational aspects.
Forgas, J. P., Brennan, G., Howe, S., Fane, J. F., & Sweet, S. (1980). Audience Effects on Squash Player Performance. Journal Of Social Psychology, 111(1), 41.
A lot of times, sports seem like a contest of physical skill― a test to see who is the fastest or strongest, who has the best eye or the most endurance, who can jump the highest or can handle the ball the best. What a lot of people don’t know is that there is so much more to a sport than just the muscle and coordination. In order to excel in a sport, an athlete requires a lot of self-discipline, concentration, and self-confidence. It’s the mental factor that makes a difference. Former Olympic gold medal-winning decathlon runner Bruce Jenner once said, “You have to train your mind like you train your body” (Gregoire 1). Success or failure depends on the mental factors just as much as the physical ones. The training of the mind of an athlete is called sports psychology. The use of sports psychology has a huge impact upon an athlete’s performance. The mental skills of a sport are just as important as the physical skills. All professional athletes use sports psychology. “If they aren’t currently using it, it’s almost guaranteed they’ve used it in the past, even if they are unaware they have” (Davis, Stephens, The Exploratorium 129). It’s hard to find an experienced athlete who hasn’t used sports psychology, because without it, they probably wouldn’t be where they are. The use of sports psychology is a crucial step to becoming a successful athlete.
Sports psychology continues to evolve in order to ensure that comprehensive and evidence-based psychological services are available for athletes and teams. Giving athletes an understanding of their psychological functioning, and building the ability to implement a range of psychological strategies in competition enables athletes to both execute their skills and thrive under pressure as they strive to reach their performance potential.