12/11/2024
Hey Coaches!
Elevate Team Resilience by Shaping How Athletes Manage Emotions Under Pressure ⬇️ Keep reading...
When the stakes are high, how athletes handle emotions can make or break team performance. A recent study highlights the contrasting approaches athletes use in two critical situations: team collapse and performance recovery. Understanding these can empower you as a coach to guide your team through challenges.
💥 In team collapse moments: Athletes often instinctively suppress emotions, vent frustration, or shift blame—all of which can drain mental energy and team cohesion. While it may seem like a natural reaction, this approach usually deepens the team’s struggle.
🏆 In performance recovery situations: Athletes who embrace mistakes, redirect focus, and support each other tend to turn momentum in their favor. Techniques like humor, positive role modeling, and perspective-taking help athletes bounce back, boosting both individual confidence and team strength.
TAKEAWAYS FOR COACHES
⭐️Teach Emotional Awareness: Model ways for athletes to notice and name their emotions under pressure without judgment
⭐️Encourage Positive Focus Shifts: After a mistake, help players redirect their focus to the next action, rather than dwelling on the past
⭐️Use Humor: Intentional humor can relieve tension and shift the team’s emotional tone after setbacks
⭐️Reframe Setbacks: Prompt athletes to look at challenges from different perspectives, which can help reduce stress and build resilience
By training your team in these effective regulation strategies, you’ll help them transform emotional responses, stay focused, and maximize performance—even in the toughest moments.
Information summarized from
Wergin, V. V., Wolf, S. A., Schwender, J. T., & Mallett, C. J. (2024).
