Stress Management Flashcards
Define stress
A negative response of the body to a threat causing anxiety
Define eustress
A positive response of the body to a threat
What is the cause of stress
Stressors
Example of stressors
– Injury
– Playing in an important match
– Playing against really good opponents
– Playing to get an important reward such as prize money
–Fear of failure
Define cognitive stress
Psychological stress
Define somatic stress
Physiological
Example of cognitive stress
Irrational thinking e.g. a tennis player taking eye off the ball when returning a serve and losing the play
Example of somatic stress
Increase in HR, nausea, muscular tension
E.g. Muscular tension in a performer taking a Free throw in basketball. The muscular tension can cause an inaccurate or weak attempt
What are cognitive stress management techniques
Positive self talk
Imagery
Visualisation
Mental rehearsal
Thought stopping
Describe thought stopping
When negative and irrational thoughts occur, the performer uses a learned action to remove them.
E.g. the batter in cricket might prod the ground with the ground with the bat prior to the delivery of the bowler
Describe positive self talk
Replacing negative thoughts with positive ones
E.g. a squash player who is struggling to retrieve opponents shot may think “I can get to the ball if I move a little sooner”
Describe imagery
Recreate a successful image of the action from a past performance
Example of imagery
Netball shooter who has scored a goal to win a close match would imagine the satisfaction associated with that winning shot and use those emotions to build confidence for the current situation
Describe visualisation
An image perfected while performing the skill successfully in training. Image is then relived when the skill is performed for real
Describe mental rehearsal
Useful for gymnasts for a floor routine on her trampoline so performer doesn’t forget the sub routines, therefore stress is reduced
