Intervening with Athletes During the Time Leading up to Competition: Theory to Practice II

Abstract

This study presents part two of a series of investigations examining, temporal anxiety responses and the use of psychological skills during the time preceding competition within elite level sport. Based on information from Part 1 (Thomas, Hanton, & Maynard, 2007), imagery, rationalization and restructuring, goal-setting, and self-talk skills were applied differentially throughout a 3-phase temporal intervention using a single-subject multiple-baseline design with three elite field hockey players. Intervention effects were tested over a 10-match cycle in relation to associated anxiety symptoms throughout a 7-day cycle (6 days, 2 days, 1 day, 1 hour pre-competition), and competitive field hockey performance as measured through performance (i.e., notational) analysis. Results indicated the intervention successfully restructured players' interpretations of anxiety and confidence symptoms, increased the intensity and frequency of experienced self-confidence symptoms, decreased the frequency of experienced cognitive anxiety symptoms, and decreased the frequency of experienced somatic anxiety symptoms for two of the players. Performance improvements were also evident for the hockey players.

Notes

A copy of the preparation booklets utilized within the study including the educational information distributed to the participants is available from the lead author.

A copy of the intervention package and scripts used at each of the different temporal phases is available from the lead author.

Due to the volume of data derived from the present study, the authors have summarized experimental effects across the dependent variables of associated anxiety symptom responses in tabular format in relation to the experimental criteria used. Figures for associated symptom responses pre- to post-intervention are only presented for one participant to provide visual representation of the results. However, the authors have formulated a complete breakdown of results for each participant with associated Figures for each of the dependent variables for each of the temporal phases of the 7-day competitive cycle. These are available from the lead author and we encourage the interested reader to request this information.