Factor: EmotionalSub Factor: Fear

How does fear positively or negatively impact your performance

when playing sport?

What is fear?

"Fear is an emotion induced by a perceived threat, which causes you to quickly pull away

or in sporting terms, usually hide. Also, it causes a performer to choke or they feel that

they cannot move (FREEZE)”

• Fear can impact upon your performance psychologically (cognitive) and physiologically (Somatic) or behaviourally:

• Psychologically means our thinking or cognitive processes are affected

• Physiologically means our body or somatic processes are affected.

• Behavioural – By patterns of behaviour.

The Impact of Fear

Symptoms of FearCognitive Somatic Behavioural

Indecision Sense of confusion Feeling heavy Negative thoughts Poor concentration Irritability Fear Forgetfulness Loss of confidence Images of failure Defeatist self- talk Feeling rushed Feeling weak Constant dissatisfaction Unable to take instructions Thoughts of avoidance

I ncreased blood pressure Pounding heart I ncreased respiration rate Sweating Clammy hands and feet Butterflies in the stomach Adrenaline surge Dry mouth Need to urinate Muscular tension Tightness in neck and shoulders Trembling I ncessant talking Blushing Pacing up and down Distorted vision Twitching Yawning Voice distortion Nausea Vomiting Diarrhoea Loss of appetite Sleeplessness Loss of libido

Biting fingernails Lethargic movements Inhibited posture Playing safe Going through the motions Introversion Uncharacteristic displays of extroversion Fidgeting Avoidance of eye contact Covering face with hand

Golfhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JMQnhSbF6EIFootballhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fpbkRApq9qYTennishttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SxkWJt2if2o

These are all examples of fear of failure

Fear can cripple even the best athletes in the game….

“If you spend too much time thinking about who is coming to watch you, how many fans are going to be there or who you’re playing against, you can get caught up in the moment. You worry instead of relaxing and expressing yourself.

In the 2012 Championship play-off final I had the worst dry mouth ever walking out of the tunnel and I was physically shaking. The first 20 minutes of the game felt like two hours.

My nerves had got the better of me. I kept giving the ball away to the opposition, I found it difficult to control the ball and I made a couple of really bad decisions like a rash tackle which almost resulted in a penalty.” Tom Ince (Professional Footballer)

Impact on performance

Fear produces negative thoughts, which directly impacts a player’s confidence. Winning and losing is

so important that fear of failure or fear of not performing well is at the forefront of a players mind.

Fear of failure can cripple the player's sense of adventure and the ability to take match winning risks. The thought of making mistakes in front of team mates, coaches and spectators can be so

paralysing that the player sits inside their comfort zone just doing the bare minimum.

Fear of the Opposition

If you fear an opponent or opposition then it is likely that your own performance level will drop significantly which will make

it easier for the opposition to compete.

v

Nadal has beaten Federer 23 times in 33 matches. It is said that Federer has a fear of playing Nadal, which is supported by

their head to head record.

Task

• Choose an activity.• Describe a situation where you experienced

fear of failure or fear of an opponent. Describe, what happened to you both physiologically and psychologically.

• Explain, the negative impact this had on you and your teams performance.