Evaluation Apprehension & Preventing Inhibition

Question 1

What is evaluation apprehension?

Answer 1

• Definition: Is the perceived fear of being judged.
• Being watched by someone important or experts in that sport, is going to have quite an intense response.
• It could either motivate you (facilitation).
• Or increase anxiety and arousal to very high levels, meaning a significant reduction in performance (inhibition).
• In evaluation apprehension you are not only being observed, but a judgement is being made on the performance.

Question 2

When can evaluation apprehension occur? (5 points).

Answer 2

• If people watching are known to the player (e.g. family members for example).
• If the performer is feeling less confident about the outcome of the event. They are already feeling unsure, in addition to the pressure from an audience.
• If the audience is seen to be expert of knowledgeable, such as a scout from a professional club.
• If the audience is critical, adding pressure. But also if the audience makes no comments at all.

All of these may cause a sense of unease in a performer!!!!

Question 3

What are the 3 strategies that help prevent social inhibition?

Answer 3

1. Getting player familiar with playing in front of a crowd.
2. Gradually introducing evaluation.
3. Improving focus and concentration.

Question 4

1. Getting players familiar with playing in front of a crowd.

Answer 4

• Training with the distraction of an audience so that they get used to being watched- a concept called familiarisation.

Question 5

2. Gradually introducing elevation

Answer 5

Not only should the audience be built up gradually, but so should the level of assessment/ evaluation of the performance.
- Informal team discussions= asking players what they thought.
- This would then lead onto more formal assessments such as statistics or interviews (player should be able to deal with scrutiny).
- Encourage support- from teammates to encourage players through games when large crowds are present.
- Reduce the importance of events- a loss or draw wouldn’t be disastrous.

Question 6

3. Improving focus and concentration

Answer 6

• Players use selective attention to focus on the game (relevant) and not the audience (irrelevant).
• Other strategies could include:
  1. Increase self-efficacy.
  2. Practice skills until they become grooved.
  3. Stress management techniques.