arousal

• arousal

  physical and mental state of alterness or readiness varying from deep sleep to intense excitement
• factors that affect arousal:

  • significance of result
  • high pressured match situations
  • being watched by peer or coach
  • playing match against rival
  • playing in hostile environment
  • returning from injury
  • fear of failure
• inverted U theory:

  • describes relationship of arousal and performance
  • low arousal leads to low performance
  • as arousal increases, performance increases to optimal level
  • arousal increases, performance decreases
• sports needing high level of arousal:

  • gross skills need high levels of arousal
  • rugby tackle
  • javelin throw
  • sprintng
• sports needing low levels of arousal:

  • fine skills need low levels of arousal
  • dart throw
  • snooker shot
• • some sports need medium levels of arousal
  • most short passes in sport need medium levels of arousal
  • short passes do not need to be hit hard, but need enough power to not be intercepted
• the stress management techniques are:

  • somatic - deep breathing
  • cognitive - mental rehearsal, positive self talk
• positive self talk:

  • telling themselves positive messages for reassurance
  • relaxes body and mind
• deep breathing:

  • exaggerated breaths in and out
  • controls nerves
  • top half of body remains relaxed
  • focus in on breathing and not on arousing situation
• mental rehearsal:

  • picturing themselves performing skill perfectly before attempting
  • blocks out distractions
  • visualisation - imaging relaxing scene
  • mental imagery - imagination of being in calm, relaxed place