How arousal and anxiety affect sports performance

Effects of Arousal on Sports Performance

Arousal is a state of physiological and psychological activation or readiness.
Different sports require varying levels of arousal for optimal performance.
Low arousal levels could lead to poor concentration, lack of motivation and sloppy performance.
Optimal arousal levels help an athlete to focus, maintain drive and perform at their peak.
When arousal levels become too high, athletes may suffer from over-arousal or ‘psyching out’.
Over-arousal can lead to increased muscle tension, rushed or uncoordinated movements, and poor decision making.

Use of The Inverted U Theory

The Inverted U Theory is commonly used to explain the relationship between arousal and performance.
This theory suggests that performance increases with arousal, but only to a point.
After this point, continued increases in arousal lead to decreased performance.
Thus, each athlete must find their own ‘optimal’ level of arousal for their best performance.

Anxiety and Sports Performance

Anxiety is the feeling of fear or apprehension about what’s to come.
This can produce physical symptoms such as increased heart rate, rapid breathing, and an increased sweat rate.
Sports performance can be affected by two types of anxiety - State Anxiety and Trait Anxiety.
State Anxiety is temporary and specific to the situation an athlete is in.
Trait Anxiety is a more general and long-lasting form of anxiety.

Differences between State Anxiety and Trait Anxiety

Athletes with high levels of Trait Anxiety are likely to experience state anxiety in low-stress situations.
However, situations that most athletes would find threatening could lead to increased State Anxiety for all athletes, irrespective of their usual Trait Anxiety levels.
Performance can be seriously impacted if an athlete is unable to manage their anxiety effectively.
Techniques such as relaxation exercises, visualisation and mental rehearsal can be used to manage anxiety and optimise sports performance.