Why do athletes use psychological strategies in both individual and group sports? (3 marks)
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- Athletes in both contexts face stress and anxiety that disrupt performance. This results in the need for psychological strategies which restore focus, whether the athlete is competing alone or as part of a team.
- Optimal arousal is required regardless of sport structure. Individual athletes self-regulate their arousal during competition, whilst group athletes rely on shared routines to bring the whole team to a similar readiness.
- Confidence and motivation must be sustained through demanding training in both settings. Visualisation and goal setting therefore serve the individual competitor and the team member alike.
- The underlying need is identical because competitive pressure affects all athletes. However, individual athletes must apply strategies independently whilst group athletes can draw on teammate support. This explains why the same strategies appear in different forms for individual sports vs team sports.
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- Athletes in both contexts face stress and anxiety that disrupt performance. This results in the need for psychological strategies which restore focus, whether the athlete is competing alone or as part of a team.
- Optimal arousal is required regardless of sport structure. Individual athletes self-regulate their arousal during competition, whilst group athletes rely on shared routines to bring the whole team to a similar readiness.
- Confidence and motivation must be sustained through demanding training in both settings. Visualisation and goal setting therefore serve the individual competitor and the team member alike.
- The underlying need is identical because competitive pressure affects all athletes. However, individual athletes must apply strategies independently whilst group athletes can draw on teammate support. This explains why the same strategies appear in different forms for individual sports vs team sports.