Self-help Articles

by Joseph K. Mintah

Anger from frustration or failure can have a negative effect on performance. Mixing sports and therapy can improve your performance. Cognitive therapy and other techniques help athletes keep their focus.

A soccer player who has been held by an opponent might become angry and attempt to retaliate by taking a swing at the opponent. Retaliation causes an automatic shift of attentional focus from the game to the opponent. As a result of the increased arousal and the break in concentration, performance suffers (Husman & Silva, 1980).

Another scenario is a basketball player who is fouled, but receives no call from the officials. If the fouled player thinks of retaliating, concentration breaks and performance drops.

Athletes, in general, should learn one or more concentration strategies to either prevent a break in concentration or help them refocus when concentration breaks.

The following concentration techniques mix sports and therapy:

Cue Words or Phrases (Self-talk)
Cue words/phrases can be used to trigger a particular competitive response. They help athletes narrow attentional focus when necessary. Cue words/phrases can be either instructional (i.e.; follow-through, relax, watch the ball) or motivational (explode, do it now, strong) to help focus on the task at hand. Cues are also useful when varying or changing a movement pattern, breaking a bad habit, or regaining concentration.

For example, a hockey player might say "stick to ice" as a reminder to keep the stick on the ice until the puck is controlled. In much the same way a soccer player might say "first to the ball" to concentrate on gaining possessing of the ball rather than running after an offending opponent who has angered her/him. For cue words/phrases to be effective they must be used in practice so that they become familiar and well learned for use in competition.

Employ Nonjudgmental Thinking
Athletes should avoid evaluating and judging their performances during competition. Judgmental thinking about some aspects of your performance may lead to irrational generalizations. As a result, concentration breaks and performance declines. For example, a basketball player who misses a couple of free throws might worry about missing shots for the rest of the game. When such thoughts and judgements re-occur athletes lose fluidness, timing and rhythm.

Use Performance Routines
Use pre-competition or pre-shot routines/techniques to get focused and prepared for upcoming performances. For example, a golfer who has a couple of bad shots might need to take some swings away from the ball before attempting a stroke. In the same way a basketball player might need to mimic shots without the ball before attempting a free throw. Using routines when concentration breaks will help athletes refocus and performance will improve.

Anger in most cases leads to a break in concentration. In order to stay focused during competition, athletes should make a conscious effort to overcome a tendency to retaliate by learning and applying concentration strategies. Sports and therapy work together to improve performance.

References:
Gould, D. & Jackson, A. (1980). Mental preparation strategies, cognitions, and strength performance. Journal of Sport Psychology, vol. 2, 329-339.

Husman, B. F. & Silva, III, J. M. (1980). Aggression in sport: Definitional and theoretical considerations. Annual Conference of NCPEAM and NASPSPA. Champaign, IL.

Weinberg, R. S. & Gould, D. (1995). Foundations of Sport and Exercise Psychology. Human Kinetics. Champaign, IL.

About the Author:

Joseph Kwame Mintah is a member of the Sport Psychology Research team at the University of Northern Iowa in Cedar Falls, Iowa. He received his Master of Arts degree in physical education at the University of Northern Iowa where he is currently a doctorate student. Joseph has played soccer at the international level in Africa, Europe and the United States. He has also coached international level soccer in Africa and is currently the head coach of the men's soccer program at Wartburg College in Waverly, Iowa.

Revised /2/6/10 by Marlene M. Maheu, Ph.D.