Arousal and Anxiety – How coaches can manage their

athletesWilliam Morrison

Context Arousal and Anxiety – Overview

Inverted U-Principle

Arousal Levels for Different Sports

Symptoms of Arousal and Anxiety

Reversal Theory

Under/Over Aroused

Cue-Utilisation Hypothesis

Managing Arousal Levels

Over Confidence

Pep Talk

Concluding Statement

References

Arousal and Anxiety - Overview

Performance Situations

Arousal refers to excitement

Anxiety is how you feel about that situation

A change in anxiety will change arousal levels

Inverted U-PrincipleArousal and performance have linear

relationship

Arousal Peak leads to better performance

Pep talks to “fire-up”

Arousal levels for different sports

Low arousal – fine motor control

Low arousal – decision making

High arousal – large muscle actions

High arousal – simple decisions

Symptoms of Arousal and Anxiety

Cold clammy hands

Frequent need to urinate

Sweating

Negative self talk

Muscle tension

Butterflies

Headache

Reversal TheoryKerr – 1985, 1997

Using symptoms to enhance performance

How an Athlete Interprets arousal and anxiety

Under/Over ArousedInverted U-Principle

Right state of arousal

Using warm up exercises to increase or decrease arousal levels

Cue-Utilisation HypothesisLow arousal – perceptual field is wide

High arousal – narrowed field

Higher arousal – too narrow field & begin to miss important cues

Managing Arousal LevelsWilliams & Harris (2006)

Muscle to Mind

Breathing

Muscle contraction

Managing Arousal LevelsMind to muscle

Meditation

Visualisation

Over ConfidenceHigh ranking versus low ranking

Optimal arousal state = best performance

Coaches role in maintaining arousal levels

Pep Talk –Good or Bad? Positive or negative effect?

Inverted U-principle

Only given to individuals not whole teams

When is the best time to give pep talks?

Should pep talks be given?

Concluding StatementMonitor

Optimal Level of arousal

Managing arousal

Pep talks?

ReferencesR. S. Weinberg, D. Gould; Human Kinetics; 2011;

Foundations of Sport and Exercise Psychology

R. A. Schmidt, C. A. Wrisberg; Human Kinetics; 2008; Motor Learning and Performance

G. Jones; British Journal of Psychology; 1995; 86: 449-478; More than just a game: Research developments and issues in competitive anxiety in sport

L. L. Craft, T. M. Magyar, B. J. Becker, D. L. Feltz; Journal of Sport & Exercise Psychology; 2003; 25, 44-65; The Relationship Between the Competitive State Anxiety Inventory-2 and Sport Performance: A Meta-Analysis