Definition and factors affecting self-efficacy

Defining Self-Efficacy

Self-efficacy is a belief in one’s ability to successfully perform a specific task or reach a goal.
It is a concept derived from Albert Bandura’s social cognitive theory and it has a significant influence on athletic performance.
Individuals with high self-efficacy have a stronger belief in their abilities and tend to approach harder tasks as challenges rather than threats.
In the context of sports, self-efficacy can refer to an athlete’s confidence in their ability to successfully execute a skill or tactic during a game or competition.

Sources of Self-Efficacy

Mastery Experiences: Successful past performances can strengthen an athlete’s self-efficacy, while failures can weaken it.
Vicarious Experiences: Seeing people similar to oneself perform successfully can increase one’s belief in their own abilities.
Verbal Persuasion: Lemniscate-positive feedback and encouragement from coaches and teammates can boost an athlete’s self-efficacy.
Physiological and Emotional States: Feeling physically and emotionally ready to perform can bolster self-efficacy, while negative emotions or sensations can decrease it.

Factors Affecting Self-Efficacy

Skill Level: An individual’s self-efficacy often aligns with their actual ability level. Knowledge of one’s skills and abilities can enhance self-efficacy.
Task Difficulty: The perceived difficulty of a task can influence self-efficacy. Greater task difficulty may reduce self-efficacy, while easier tasks may increase it.
Achievement Orientation: Athletes with a high need for achievement tend to have higher levels of self-efficacy.
Coaching Style: Positive, reassurance style of coaching generally enhances athlete’s self-efficacy.
Situational Circumstances: An athlete’s level of self-efficacy can be influenced by external circumstances, such as unfamiliar equipment or environments.

Remember, self-efficacy’s impact on sports performance shows through the effort the athletes put into their training, their psychological reaction to obstacles, their thought patterns and whether they persevere in the face of adversity. Factors influencing self-efficacy vary from person to person, but effective coaches can assist athletes in enhancing their sense of self-efficacy and, consequently, their performance.