Sports Psychology
- The Fear Of Failure 3
- The Fear Of Failure 2
- Sports And Parental Values
- The Fear Of Failure In Athletes 1
- The Secret Of Lasting Confidence
- Why High Expectations Cause A Loss Of Composure
- Strategies for Dealing with an Unexpected Poor Performance or Loss
- Total Fitness
- Using The Weapons Of Sports Psychology In Athletics
- How To Help Young Athletes Set Goals
- Parents Behavior During The Car Ride Home
- How To Love Exercise
- How To Reach Your Achievement Zone
- Is Stress IQ Hurting Your Performance?
- Profile of a Winner: An Interview with an Olympic Gold Medalist
- Set Goals And Take Charge
- Sport Psychology: Guidelines for Parents of Young Athletes
- Using The Mind To Heal The Body
- Resources For Parents
- Resources For Athletes
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Strategies For Dealing With Poor Performance Or Loss
At the 1996 summer Olympics, the USA women’s volleyball team was expected to win the gold medal at home. They had won the world Grand Prix Champion in 1995. However, the final result of 7th place was very disappointing. According to one of the players: "We didn't play like we can play, and that's worse than playing great and still losing."
An unexpected lose may lead to negative feelings, such as mild depression, frustration, or self doubts regarding one's ability. What can athletes do when faced with such difficulties? The following strategies may be helpful to maintain a positive attitude that is necessary for continued motivation and effort.
1. View the poor performance as a lesson learned.
It is human to make mistakes. Even the greatest athletes sometimes fall short of their goals. After a poor performance or loss, athletes may initially feel disappointed in response to a poor performance or a loss. However, if athletes do not view it as a personal disaster or an indication of personal incompetence, a poor performance or a loss can teach athletes a valuable lesson.
