Demands of Performance
(Psychology of Sport)
What you need to know:
• What fatigue and stress are
• The factors that can lead to the onset of
fatigue and stress
• The effects these can have on the
performer both physically and mentally
• How the following can have an impact
on how stress/fatigue effects the
individual:
- Personality/emotions
- Tension/anxiety
- Aggression
- Motivation/arousal
- Boredom/tedium
What you need to be able to do :
• Describe the terms: stress, fatigue,
introvert, extrovert, tension, anxiety,
aggression, motivation, arousal, boredom,
tedium.
• Explain the factors that can contribute to
stress and fatigue
• Explain how the above factors can affect
a sports performer both physically and
mentally
• Suggest ways in which a sports performer
can reduce their levels of stress & fatigue
Prior to the Germany game:
World Cup 2010: England boss Fabio Capello: ‘The pressure has got to
Wayne Rooney but he will bounce back’
"Sometimes the pressure is so big for all the important players.”
Almost half a century since they won their only major tournament, England
burdens its players with a crippling level of expectation and pressure, and
pays no heed to the enormous body of evidence that they cannot handle it.
England and Germany Face Possible Early World Cup Exits
England players faced harsh criticism from their media and fans after
their scoreless draw against Algeria last Friday.
England's football World Cup is in the balance with everything up
for grabs Wednesday for all the four teams in Group C.
After the match against Algeria, England players were booed by their own fans.
Andy Murray is hoping to get the royal seal of approval at Wimbledon on
Thursday when he plays in front of the Queen.
"I hope it doesn't affect me in the match," said Murray. "I think it's one of those
things that when you get out there you're aware of it, but then it is our job to be
able to concentrate and to focus, not let things that are going on off the court
distract you.
Murray insisted last weekend that he loved the game, and despite the enormous
expectations he faces each year at Wimbledon, he maintained that the fortnight
was his favourite time of the year. “I don’t mind it,” he said of the expectations.
“There’s definitely more pressure on me to play well.”
Objectives
• All: Describe the following : arousal, personality type,
stress
• Most: Explain how can these factors affect
performance?
• Some: Suggest ways in which a sportsman/woman
could overcome these factors and deal with stressful
situations positively.
What is stress?
“It is the body’s reaction to a change that requires physical, mental or
emotional adjustment or response”
Some people may become more aggressive, others may find their level of
arousal is increased when they are stressed.
-
Excitement can lead to tension. Tension can then lead to tight muscles that will in
turn effect performance (this is a form of stress)
-
Anxiety can be make you feel apprehensive before and during a performance.
Mistakes increase if you are over anxious. Most athletes need some degree of
anxiety to help them focus, but too much anxiety can make a person
argumentative, for example (more on anxiety next lesson)
-
Nervousness can also lead to increased tension levels – some performers
experience shakiness and sickness
-
Motivation often decreases when any of the above three reactions are witnessed.
Personality types
• Introverts:
Reserved, less outgoing, less sociable, enjoy time on their
own. Likely to have smaller circles of friends.
Not necessarily shy.
Suited to individual sports/repetitive sports e.g.
Marathon running, gymnastics, golf, cycling
• Extroverts:
Assertive, interested in seeking out excitement, enjoy social
interactions, enthusiastic, talkative, loud, outgoing, enjoy
new/un familiar situations.
Suited to team sports e.g. Football, rugby, netball
Arousal
“The level of readiness of an individual to perform a task”
- What happens to your performance if your not ‘up for it?’
- What happens if you are too ‘up for it?’
Performance
Inverted U Theory
As arousal increases you get better - up to
a certain point, after which you get worse
Arousal
Performance
Type of person?
Player 2
Player 1
Player 3
Arousal
The individual can affect the placement of the curve
Performance
Type of Sport?
Surfing
Archery
Kick boxing
Arousal
The sport can affect the placement of the curve
Increasing / decreasing arousal
Ways to increase:
Ways to decrease/control:
Starter:
With a partner discuss and be ready to define and explain at
least two of the following terms:
Stress Arousal Introvert Extrovert -
The body’s reaction to a change that requires physical,
mental or emotional adjustment of change
The level of readiness of an individual to perform a
task. (How ‘psyched up’ the performer is)
Reserved, less outgoing, prefer being in small groups
– suited to individual/repetitive sporting activities
Assertive, ‘thrill seeking,’ enjoy social interactions,
suited to games based activities
Further Q: Can you explain the link
between personality and arousal levels?
You have 5mins to revise for a
TEST on everything you have
studied in GCSE PE so far.
Now complete the SCAT test
Objectives
• All: Describe the following : anxiety, SCAT test,
intrinsic and extrinsic motivation.
• Most: Explain how anxiety and motivation can affect
performance?
• Some: Suggest ways in which a sportsman/woman
could overcome or reduce their anxiety.
Anxiety
It was your homework to
find out what this it and
how it affects performers
• ‘When a person is uneasy or troubled, often caused by fear of
underperforming’
• All performers experience some degree of anxiety before or during
a performance. The level of anxiety will depend on the nature of
the activity (if the stakes are high or if the crowd is large) and the
personality of the individual
•
•
•
•
How do you feel before competing for your team in a PE lesson?
When competing for the school?
If you were competing for the county?
If you were representing the country?
Motivation
Motivation is:
• the driving force that compels people to do something.
• “….is why people do what they do…”
• the direction and intensity of one’s effort
What motivates you take part in sport? Take GCSE PE? Play for
the school team? Play sport outside of school etc?
Motivation can take 2 forms: Intrinsic and Extrinsic
What
motivates
them?
Intrinsic or Extrinsic Motivation?
So, David Beckham, what persuaded you to sign that £128m deal with LA Galaxy?
Los Angeles Reporter
Pain is temporary. It may last a minute, or an hour, or a day, or a year, but eventually it
will subside and something else will take its place. If I quit, however, it lasts forever.
Lance Armstrong
Every kid around the world who plays soccer wants to be me. I have a great responsibility
to show them not just how to be like a soccer player, but how to be like a man.
Pele
Champions aren't made in the gyms. Champions are made from something they have
deep inside them -- a desire, a dream, a vision.
Muhammad Ali
'Success is not final, failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts'
Winston Churchill
I'm tired of hearing about money, money, money, money, money. I just want to play the
game, drink Pepsi, wear Reebok.
Shaquille O'Neal
I'm motivated by trophies - not money - and that's why I joined Manchester City
Gareth Barry
The key to immortality is living a life worth remembering.
Bruce Lee
Intrinsic motivation
comes from the
activity itself – ‘for the
love of the game’
You enjoy the sport
regardless of the
rewards.
Extrinsic motivation
comes from rewards
and outside factors
like winning, prize
money, rankings and
sponsorship
Intrinsic or Extrinsic Motivation?
Consider this question:
Would you rather play badly and your team win, or you play
well and your team lose?
What does the answer say about your motivation?
TASK:
Create a psychological profile for yourself.
As a minimum you must do the following:
ALL of you must:
- Identify whether you are an introvert or extrovert (explain why)
- Explain how you cope with anxiety in sport
- Identify whether you are intrinsically or extrinsically motivated (explain why)
Most of you should:
- Explain how these factors link to affect how you deal with stress in a sporting
situation and how this affects your performance overall
- Explain the arousal theory in relation to your own personality/sport
Some of you could:
- Suggest how your arousal levels/reaction to stress is different in varying situations
- Suggest ways to control your levels of stress/anxiety in competition
BEGIN IN DRAFT ON FLIP CHART PAPER, A4 OR A3 PAPER, then complete in best for
homework. Due this Thursday.
Example
I am more extroverted than introverted. I
can be loud, I enjoy interacting with team
mates and I enjoy the excitement of
winning in team sports. But I also enjoy
quieter sports/activities, like going to the
gym and cycling (they give me ‘me’ time,
which is typical introvert behaviour)
My SCAT score is 18 indicating
that I have an average (low
average) level of anxiety. I know
this to be true as I often get a little
nervous, but I enjoy the nerves
and they help me perform better.
Mr Boaler
I am predominantly
intrinsically motivated
which means…
My arousal level ….
To deal with this I could …
This would often have a positive
impact on my performance within
martial arts competitions. My hands
would shake a little and my heart
rate would rise, but this actually
helped me as I felt a heightened
sense of awareness and ‘up for it’.
Boredom, Feedback, Aggression
Bronze:
Define and explain ‘boredom’ and ‘feedback’
Silver:
Explain how boredom and feedback can affect motivation
and performance
Gold:
Suggest ways in which a coach could prevent boredom and
provide effective feedback to help a performer to improve
Boredom
You are totally uninterested in what you are doing, your
concentration lapses and the chances are you will try very
little if at all.
Boredom is also referred to as Tedium
• How many of you experienced this during the first task?
• What was changed to make it more interesting/challenging?
• How do you think boredom effects motivation and
performance? Can you think of a situation in sport where this
has applied to you?
Feedback
It is through feedback that progress and learning occur (think about the
feedback we give at the end of the leadership sessions). Without feedback
improvements would be limited.
There are 2 main forms of feedback:
• Internal (Intrinsic) – from ‘inside the body’ – what it feels like. Can you
think of examples of this?
• External (extrinsic) – this comes from outside the body through sound and
vision and provides information about the performance – ‘knowledge of
performance’ and about results – ‘knowledge of results’ e.g. video
recording/verbal feedback from a teacher/coach
Knowledge of performance
Feedback about how to improve the skill/technique
e.g.
‘keep your arms straight in the handstand’
‘keep your head up when dribbling with the ball
so you can see where the defender is’
Knowledge of results
Feedback about how well the sportsperson performed.
e.g.
‘You saved 5 goals and only let in 1 – well done’
‘You finished the race in 58.58’
REMEMBER:
Feedback should always motivate the
performer as well as correct the
technique/performance
Starter: Boredom and Feedback
With a partner: How many of these can you answer in 2 mins???
1. What is intrinsic feedback?
2. Define boredom
3. Give 2 ways a coach could alleviate boredom in a training session
4. What is ‘knowledge of results’?
5. Give an example of feedback given as ‘knowledge of performance’
6. Give 2 effects on performance that you would expect if the
performer is bored?
Start the computers!!
Today’s lesson: What level are you happy with?
Bronze (C/D):
Describe the difference between direct and indirect aggression
and give examples of this.
Define fatigue and describe basic effects this can have on
performance
Silver (B/C):
Give examples of how fatigue can affect performance and
explain how it could be reduced
Gold (A*/A):
Explain how performers in a high level sporting context have
been effected by fatigue. If you were there coach what would
you do to a) help them perform to their best despite fatigue b)
try to prevent this occurring again
Aggression
What is aggression? Discuss this with you partner.
“Aggression is defined as behaviour aimed at causing harm or pain,
psychological harm, or personal injury or physical distraction.”
or
“Acting with intent to injury someone”
When does this occur in sport?
Do we really want players to play with more aggression?
There are 2 types aggression:
• Direct – players make contact with each other
• Indirect – aggression directed towards a ball/other object
–
–
When may some ‘aggression’ be a positive?
When would it be a negative? What may be the dangers of uncontrolled aggression?
Direct Aggression
• Contact sports involve physical contact.
Indirect Aggression
• You can still be aggressive in non-contact
sports.
Direct or Indirect Aggression
Aggression
Controlled and uncontrolled aggression
Extroverted people are often involved in sports which require a degree of
aggression. Aggression can be a negative, although as long as it is
controlled, it can also become a positive.
Aggression can sometimes be the same as being assertive and
determined, in non-contact sports especially, this is usually a good thing.
In contact sports, aggression, if uncontrolled, can lead to rule breaking
and injuring the opponent
Examples of aggression. Consider the following…
‘Are they examples of direct/indirect aggression.?’
Justify your answer.
• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vF4iWIE77Ts
• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SszJZNB0XsM&feature=fvw
Fatigue
Fatigue is a feeling of extreme physical or mental tiredness brought
on by extreme exertion. It can result in temporary loss of strength and
energy.
It can be caused by a lack of sleep, but this is not the only cause.
What else do you think could cause fatigue?
Overtraining (too much, too long)
Lack of variety in training (tedium)
Insufficient rest between training sessions
Research Task: Use a search engine to find examples
from sport where fatigue has had dramatic consequences.
Fatigue
Discussion carousel based on fatigue articles
• 1 min – summarise to a partner what you found out
• 1 min – partner explains to you what they found out
• Swap partners:
• 45 secs – summarise to your partner – swap over
• 30 secs – summarise what you first partner said, swap over
• Swap partners:
• 3 mins: summarise what you have discussed so far – ‘How do
you think fatigue can affect your performance?
Fatigue
Effects of fatigue:
- Your body or parts of your body may not be able to carry on
with what you are doing due to local muscular fatigue. (You
may need to stop altogether)
- Concentration levels will decrease and you are more likely to
make mistakes of judgement
- Skill level decreases
- You may be forced to stop
In games based activities – what is in place to help prevent
injuries from fatigue occurring?
Scenario Task
• Read the three profiles on the handout.
• Remember: this task covers arousal, stress, anxiety, personality types
(introvert/extrovert), motivation, aggression and fatigue.
• TIPS:
– Recognise the difficulty of the questions (Gold, Silver, Bronze)
– Be aware of how many marks the question is worth
Objectives of this activity:
A/A* - to ensure your knowledge is applied in the context of a real sporting
scenario, which enables you to show your depth of knowledge and
understanding..
C/B - familiarisation with the format of the terminal GCSE exam and practise
answering questions to earn the available marks.
D/C - to revise the key words and definitions associated with the Demands of
Performance (Sports Psychology) module. To allow anyone who has missed
lessons to be able to catch up.