Graduate Research Papers
Availability
Open Access Graduate Research Paper
Abstract
The purpose of this study was to examine levels of anxiety in athletes that participate in individual and team sports, and to examine potential gender differences. It was hypothesized that athletes that take part in an individual sport will exhibit higher levels of sport anxiety due to the fact that all attention is focused on them when they are performing. Individual sport athletes do not have any teammates present that the focus could be shifted to. It is just the athlete and his or her opponent or the individual task involved in that particular sport. Athletes in team sports may experience lower levels of anxiety due to the fact that they are generally not the focal point of attention at all times during practice and competition. Lower anxiety levels may exist in athletes that take part in team sports because of the social network the team atmosphere provides. Based on previous research, it is also hypothesized that women and men will exhibit different levels of anxiety. Applications of this study could be helpful to athletes and coaches to aid in the management of pre-competition anxiety. If the athlete and coach can pinpoint the athlete's potential level of anxiety, they could possibly reduce the negative effects of anxiety by using some form of imagery, breathing techniques, or self-talk. The information found in this study could potentially be helpful to coaches to assist in creating an environment or situations which are less stressful for their athletes and reducing their precompetition anxiety. With better knowledge of sport anxiety and how it differs in athletes, practitioners and athletes will have a better understanding of how to properly deal with precompetition anxiety to optimize athletic performance.
Year of Submission
2009
Degree Name
Master of Arts
Department
School of Health, Physical Education, and Leisure Services
First Advisor
Mickey Mack
Date Original
2009
Object Description
1 PDF file (26 pages)
Copyright
©2009 Jordan E. Lacy
Language
en
Recommended Citation
Lacy, Jordan E., "Examining Differences of Precompetition Sport Anxiety between Individual Sport and Team Sport Athletes" (2009). Graduate Research Papers. 4335.
https://scholarworks.uni.edu/grp/4335
Comments
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