Anxiety in sport Flashcards
Anxiety definition
A state of nervousness and worry, a negative response to a threatening sporting situation
What are the two types of competitive anxiety?
Competitive trait anxiety
Competitive state anxiety
Competitive trait anxiety
- when a player feels nerves before most games and could simply be part of the players genetic makeup
- nervous
Competitive state anxiety
- temporary
- response to a particular moment in the game or specific sporting situation
- can vary during the game
- depend on mood of player at any given time
Questionnaires
Asks a series of questions about their emotions in different situations
Advantages of questionnaires
- quick
- cheap
- efficient
- large numbers can be assessed quickly
- can compare results
Disadvantages of questionaires
- may select the desirable answer
- answers may depend on mood state
- biased results may be given
- can be influenced by rushing the answers
Observations
Can be done by simply watching, either in their familiar training environment or during a game
Advantage of observations
Observations are a realistic approach and can be seen as true to life
Disadvantages of observations
- results are opinion based
- if lots of observations, results can vary
- time consuming
- behaviour changes if realised being watched
Physiological measures
Can be measured using physical responses from the body
Physiological measures advantages
- factual - so easy comparisons can be made
- can be measured in training and real game situations
Physiological measures disadvantages
- can be difficult to use the devices
- cost may deter amateur or lower funded teams
- wearing devices may restrict movements
- knowing they are being ‘evaluated’ may cause additional stress and give a false reading
What are the 3 different ways to measure anxiety?
Questionaires
Physiological measures
Observations
