Understanding the link between anxiety and performance in sports
Anxiety is a common feeling experienced by athletes before, during and sometimes even after sporting events. While some level of anxiety can be beneficial for performance (such as performing better under pressure), excessive anxiety can lead to negative outcomes. Understanding the link between anxiety and performance in sports can help athletes manage their anxiety levels and perform at their best.
What is anxiety in sports?
Anxiety is a normal reaction to stress, and it is a feeling of uneasiness or apprehension about future events. In a sporting context, anxiety can be caused by the pressure to perform, fear of failure, or the overall importance of whatever event you’re taking part in.
Athletes who experience anxiety can experience physical symptoms such as increased heart rate, sweating, and trembling.
The relationship between Anxiety and Performance
The relationship between anxiety and performance in sports is a complex one. Moderate levels of anxiety can help athletes focus their attention and increase their motivation to perform.
Although, excessive anxiety can lead to negative outcomes such as decreased performance, impaired decision-making, and reduced enjoyment of the sport.
The Yerkes-Dodson law: What is it?
The Yerkes-Dodson law is a principle that describes the relationship between arousal and performance. According to this law, there is an optimal level of arousal that maximises performance. When arousal levels are too low, performance is suboptimal. When arousal levels are too high, performance declines. The optimal level of arousal is different for each individual and depends on factors such as the sport, the athlete’s skill level, and the importance of the event.
What are the two types of anxiety in sport?
There are two types of anxiety that you may experience: trait anxiety and state anxiety.
Trait anxiety is a personality characteristic and refers to the tendency to experience anxiety in response to stressful situations.
State anxiety is a temporary feeling of anxiety that arises in response to a specific situation, such as a sporting event.
How to Manage your Anxiety
You can manage your anxiety levels by using various techniques such as relaxation exercises, positive self-talk, and visualisation.
Relaxation exercises such as deep breathing and progressive muscle relaxation can help reduce physical symptoms of anxiety.
Positive self-talk involves using positive affirmations to replace negative thoughts.
Visualisation involves mentally rehearsing successful performances to increase confidence and reduce anxiety.
Dealing with Anxiety in Young Players
From the negative impacts of Social Media to dealing with the aftermath of the pandemic, there’s been a real spike in anxiety levels amongst young people.\This course will teach you Our ‘Dealing with Anxiety in Young Players’ Online course will help you to detect heightened levels of Anxiety in your young players along with the best ways of helping them deal with this in a positive way.
The course will focus on exploring anxiety in young players.
As part of the course, learners will develop an understanding of the ways in which we can promote positive mental health and reduce the risk of developing anxiety disorders through implementing preventative measures.
After completing this course, you will understand how to:
- Increase understanding of mental health and mental ill health
- Improve awareness of the role of risk factors and protective factors in preventing mental ill health
- Raise awareness in relation to anxiety and anxiety disorders
- Increase awareness in relation to the role those working in the sporting environment can play
- Provide information on how to access appropriate support and intervention
Finally, learners will acquire knowledge of the ways in which they can support young people with anxiety disorders and know when and how to signpost to specialist services when required.
ENROL: Sign up for the Anxiety course today!
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