Choke (sports)

In sports, a choke is the failure of a sportsperson or team in a game in a situation where maintaining their performance is highly important.[1] This can occur in a game or tournament that they are strongly favored to win, or in an instance where they have a large lead that they squander in the late stages of the event. It can also refer to repeated failures in the same event, or simply infer an unexpected failure when the event is more important than usual.

Most athletes experience physical and mental changes during stages of increased tension in competition. They may change their strategy as a coping mechanism, and play more cautiously as a result.[2] In instances where this strategy fails, a player or team many lose confidence to the point of panic, where they are incapable of completing the most rudimentary of tasks.[3][4] Choking in sport can be considered a form of analysis paralysis.[5] It is often an over-used, or even derisive term in the sports world, where "choke" status is assigned to a team or player that was simply unlucky. The term "clutch" is gaining popularity to describe the opposite of choking.[6]

Choking

Choking under pressure decreases the standard level of athletic performance, of an athlete when they may be at their peak performance.[7] Symptoms of choking may include, tightening up of the muscles, an increase level of anxiety and a decrease in self-confidence. Choking can leave an athlete feeling embarrassed or frustrated.

Causes

Choking is caused when an athlete becomes distracted, their thoughts become negative or unproductive and when they worry about things they cannot control. Anxiety is built up from negative self-talk and doubt which leads to choking.[8]

Explicit monitoring theory

The explicit monitoring theory provides an explanation for athlete’s under-performance at the precise moment they need to be at their best. Sian Beilock and Tom Carr suggest that “pressure raises self-consciousness and anxiety about performing correctly, which increases the attention paid to skill processes and their step-by-step control. Attention to execution at this step-by-step level is thought to disrupt well-learned or proceduralized performances.”[9]

Distraction theory

Distraction theory was first suggested by Wine [10] to explain under-performance in performance pressure situations. Distraction theorists argue that pressure creates a dual task situation which draws attention away from the task at hand. Attention is then focused towards irrelevant stimuli such as worries, social expectations, and anxiety [9] Wine first tested his hypothesis with academic tests but it has since been applied to athletics.

Research has found that distraction theory is supported in situations where working memory is used to analyze and make decisions quickly.[11] Short term memory is used to maintain relevant stimuli and block irrelevant information as it relates to the task at hand.[12]

Self-focus theory

Predicts, a decrease in performance is due to attention being shifted to movement execution. Any combination of factors that increase the importance of performing is considered performance pressure. Baumeister’s self-focus theory suggests responding to performance pressure can lead to an increase in self-consciousness which then results in choking.[13] There is more focus on the motor components of performance, consciously controlling movements with step-by-step control.[14]

Processing efficiency theory (PET)

Anxiety causes a shift in an athlete’s attention towards thought of performance consequences and failure.[15] An increase in worry decreases attention resources. According to PET, athletes put extra effort into their performance when under pressure, to eliminate negative performance. Eysenck and Calvo found processing efficiency is effected by negative anxiety more than performance effectiveness. Efficiency being the relationship between the quality of task performance and the effort spent in task performance.[16]

Attentional control theory (ACT)

Eysenck and Calvo developed ACT an extension to PET, hypothesizing an individual shifts attention to irrelevant stimuli. Stress and pressure cause an increase in the stimulus-driven system and a decrease in the goal-directed system. Disruption of balance between these two systems causes the individual to respond to salient stimuli rather than focusing on current goals.[17] ACT identifies the basic central executive functions inhibition and shifting, which are affected by anxiety. Inhibition is the ability to minimize distractions caused from irrelevant stimuli.[18] Shifting requires adapting to changes in attentional control. Shifting back and forth between mental sets due to task demands.[19]

Attentional threshold model

According to the attentional threshold model, a performance decrement is caused by exceeded threshold of attentional capacity. This model combines both the self-focus models and the distraction models. The combination of worry and self-focus together causes a decrease in performance. Attentional Threshold Model suggests that choking is a complex process involving cognitive, emotional and attentional factors.[20]

Contributing factors

Factors of choking may include, individual responsibility, expectations, poor preparation, self-confidence, physical/mental errors, important games/moments and opponent’s actions.

Fear of negative evaluation

FNE is a psychological characteristic that increases anxiety under high pressure. Creates apprehension about others evaluations or expectations of oneself.[21] FNE is similar to motive to avoid failure (MaF). The need to avoid negative evaluation from others, avoid mistakes and avoid negative comparison to other players.[22]

Presence of an audience

The presence of parents, coaches, media or scouts can increase pressure leading to choking. An athlete wants to perform their best while being observed and trying not to make any mistakes increases the amount of pressure they are under.[22]

Self-confidence

Being over-confident can cause negativity to take over quickly. Not expecting something negative to happen can cause a choke. Having low self-confidence leads to more mistakes, because you do not think you can do anything.[22]

A study done by Wang, Marchant, Morris and Gibbs (2004) found poor performance associated with high self-conscious individuals. An individual with high self-consciousness focuses their attention to thoughts relating to the task (i.e., “did I step right?”) and to outside concerns (i.e., “will people laugh if I mess up?”). Individuals with low self-consciousness can direct their attention outward or inward because self-concerns do not dominate their thinking.[23]

Choking and individual zone of optimal functioning

According to IZOF, introduced by Yuri L. Hanin as an instance of the earlier-discovered Yerkes–Dodson effect, an individual’s best performance is when their anxiety level is in a certain zone of optimal state of anxiety or affect. Too much or too little anxiety can lead to performance decrement. Determining athletes’ optimal prestart state anxiety level leads to achieving and maintaining that level throughout the performance.[24]

Choking can occur if the athlete is outside their anxiety zone. Programs such as IZOF help identify an athletes anxiety zone creating a balance between arousal and somatic anxiety. Low arousal can lead to broad attention taking in irrelevant and relevant cues. High arousal can create low attention causing important cues being missed.[25]

For example a lacrosse goalie with low arousal may focus more on whether or not a college scout is watching them, rather than focusing on the opponent who is about to score on them. A lacrosse goalie with high arousal may focus more on the opponents stick position instead of the opponents body position, causing them to step in the wrong direction.

Examples of choking in sports

American football

In a Wild Card playoff matchup between the Buffalo Bills and the Houston Oilers On January 3, 1993, the Oilers blew a 32-point lead[26] to lose in overtime, the largest in a playoff game in NFL history. This game is known to this day as The Comeback, or locally in Houston as The Choke.[27]

In Super Bowl LI, the Atlanta Falcons lost a 28-3 lead late in the 3rd quarter by allowing the New England Patriots to come all the way back and win 34-28. The 25 point lead blown easily dwarfs the previous Super Bowl record of a 10-point deficit to come back and win, which occurred on 3 different occasions. [28]

Association Football

The England National Football Team has been noted in the last 30 years especially, for their under-performance in major tournaments, and for their lack of success in penalty shootouts.[29][30] They lost shootouts against Germany in the 1990 World Cup Semi Finals, and in the 1996 European Championship Semi Finals. They lost a shootout against Argentina in the 1998 World Cup Second Round. They then lost two shootouts against Portugal in successive tournaments in 2004 and 2006. Most recently they lost a penalty shootout to Italy in the 2012 European Championships. They have also had notable instances of losing or under-performing in important matches, such as the loss against USA in 1950, surrendering a two-goal lead to West Germany in 1970, drawing against Poland in 1973 when they needed to win to qualify for the World Cup, and losing against Iceland in the 2016 European Championships. Later, in the 2018 FIFA World Cup semifinals against the Croatia national football team, England led at halftime, with a score of 1-0. However, Croatia managed to score twice more, denying England's entry to the finals.

In the first knockout round of the 2016-17 UEFA Champions League, Paris Saint-Germain F.C. lost a 4-goal aggregate lead to FC Barcelona. PSG had won the first leg at home by 4-0, and had scored an away goal at the Camp Nou to lead 5-3 on aggregate after 88 minutes. However, two late goals from Neymar and a stoppage time winner from Sergi Roberto gave Barcelona a 6-1 win on the night and a 6-5 triumph on aggregate. Some commentators have called this one of the biggest chokes in footballing history.[31]

Cricket

In cricket, when an individual player nears scoring a 100 runs (a century (cricket), it is commonly stated that they are in the nervous nineties.[32] A player may bat more conservatively to avoid giving away his wicket cheaply, and this may either be positive or detrimental to their chances, depending on their playing style and temperament.

South Africa suffered upset losses against the West Indies in 1996 and New Zealand in 2011.[33] South Africa's win in the 1998 ICC KnockOut Trophy remains their only international tournament victory to date.

In the 2013 Champions Trophy final against India, England batted second and got into a position of needing just 20 runs off the last 16 balls, with six wickets in hand, but lost four wickets in the space of eight balls and lost the match by five runs.[34]

Ice hockey

On February 20, 2014, at the Winter Olympic games in Sochi, Russia, in the Women's Gold medal game between Team USA and Team Canada, the US was up 2–0 in the third period with only 3:30 minutes left in the game. The Canadian team rallied and scored, bringing the game to 2–1. The US had an opportunity to score into the empty net but hit the goal post instead. Then Canada tied the score in the third period with 55 seconds left and won the game in sudden death overtime.[35]

See also

References

  1. ↑ "choke Meaning in the Cambridge English Dictionary". dictionary.cambridge.org. Retrieved 3 June 2018.
  2. ↑ "What is Choking in Sports? - Sports Performance Anxiety". www.performanceanxietysports.com. Retrieved 3 June 2018.
  3. ↑ https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/the-new-you/201507/how-stop-choking-under-pressure
  4. ↑ "Sports Psychology – Choke vs Panic in Sports". 15 August 2013. Retrieved 3 June 2018.
  5. ↑ http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/02640410400021666
  6. ↑ M. Otten (October 2009). "Choking vs. clutch performance: a study of sport performance under pressure". J Sport Exerc Psychol. 31 (5): 583–601. doi:10.1123/jsep.31.5.583. PMID 20016110.
  7. ↑ Oudejans, Raoul R.D.; Kuijpers, Wilma; Kooijman, Chris C.; Bakker, Frank C. (January 2011). "Thoughts and attention of athletes under pressure: skill-focus or performance worries?". Anxiety, Stress & Coping. 24 (1): 59–73. doi:10.1080/10615806.2010.481331.
  8. ↑ "Understanding Pressure: Stop the Choking". Winning Edge Sports Psychology. Winning Edge Psychological Services, LLC.
  9. 1 2 Beilock, S. L.; Carr, T. H. (2001). "On the fragility of skilled performance: What governs choking under pressure?". Journal of Experimental Psychology: General. 130 (4): 701–725. doi:10.1037/0096-3445.130.4.701.
  10. ↑ Wine, J (1971). "Test anxiety and direction of attention". Psychological Bulletin. 76: 92–104. doi:10.1037/h0031332.
  11. ↑ Beilock, S. H. (2005). "When High-Powered People Fail". Psychological Science. 16 (2): 101–105. doi:10.1111/j.0956-7976.2005.00789.x. PMID 15686575.
  12. ↑ Miyake, A., & Shah, P. (1999). Models of working memory: Mechanisms of active maintenance and executive control. New York: University Press.
  13. ↑ Baumeister, Roy. F (1984). "Choking under pressure: Self-consciousness and paradoxical effects of incentives on skillful performance". Journal of Personality and Social Psychology. 46 (3): 610–620. doi:10.1037/0022-3514.46.3.610.
  14. ↑ Schucker, Linda; Hagemann, Norbert; Strauss, Bernd (2013). "Attentional Processes and Choking Under Pressure". Perceptual and Motor Skills. 116: 671–689. doi:10.2466/30.25.pms.116.2.671-689.
  15. ↑ Oudejans, Raoul R.D.; Kuijpers, Wilma; Kooijman, Chris C.; Bakker, Frank C. (January 2011). "Thoughts and attention of athletes under pressure: skill-focus or performance worries?". Anxiety, Stress & Coping. 24 (1): 59–73. doi:10.1080/10615806.2010.481331.
  16. ↑ Eysenck, Michael; Derakshan, Nazanin; Rita, Santos; Calvo, Manuel (2007). "Anxiety and cognitive performance: attentional control theroy" (PDF). Emotion. 7 (2): 336–353. doi:10.1037/1528-3542.7.2.336.
  17. ↑ Cox, Richard (2012). Sport Psychology Concepts and Applications (Seventh ed.). New York, NY: McGraw-Hill. pp. 142–143. ISBN 978-0-07-802247-0.
  18. ↑ Coombes, Stephen; Higgins, Torrie; Gamble, Kelly; Cauraugh, James; Janelle, Christopher (2009). "Attentional control theory: Anxiety, emotion and motor planning". Journal of Anxiety Disorders. 23 (8): 1072–1079. doi:10.1016/j.janxdis.2009.07.009. PMC 2760607.
  19. ↑ Eysenck, Michael; Derakshan, Nazanin; Santos, Rita; Calvo, Manuel (2007). "Anxiety and cognitive performance: attentional control theory" (PDF). Emotion. 7 (2): 336–353. doi:10.1037/1528-3542.7.2.336.
  20. ↑ Cox, Richard (2012). Sport Psychology Concepts and Applications (Seventh ed.). New York, NY: McGraw-Hill. p. 143. ISBN 978-0-07-802247-0.
  21. ↑ Mesagno, C; Harvey, J. T; Janelle, C. M (2012). "Choking under pressure: The role of fear of negative evaluation". Psychology of Sport and Exercise. 12 (1): 60–68.
  22. 1 2 3 Hill, Denise; Shaw, Gareth (2013). "A qualitative examination of choking under pressure in team sport". Psychology of Sport and Exercise. 14: 103–110. doi:10.1016/j.psychsport.2012.07.008.
  23. ↑ Wang, J; Marchant, D; Moriris, T; Gibbs, P (2004). "Self-consciousness and trait anxiety as predictors of choking in sport". Science and Medicine in Sport. 7 (2): 174–185. doi:10.1016/s1440-2440(04)80007-0.
  24. ↑ Robazza, Claudio; Pellizzari, Melinda; Hanin, Yuri (2004). "Emotion self-regulation and athletic performance: An application of the IZOF model". Psychology of Sport and Exercise. 5: 379–404. doi:10.1016/s1469-0292(03)00034-7.
  25. ↑ "Effects of Psychological Factors". Fitness testing and training. Loughborough College.
  26. ↑ "Bills and Eagles Turn Mountains Into Molehill; Buffalo Erases 32-Point Deficit". New York Times. January 4, 1993. Retrieved July 12, 2016.
  27. ↑ Seminara, Dave (January 1, 2013). "The Greatest Rally, or the Biggest Fade?". The New York Times. Archived from the original on January 3, 2013.
  28. ↑ "The Falcons' Super Bowl collapse is one of the biggest choke jobs in sports history".
  29. ↑ "England's Penalty Kick Shootout Matches". www.englandfootballonline.com. Retrieved 3 June 2018.
  30. ↑ Hammond, Claudia. "Sports: Why we choke under pressure". Retrieved 3 June 2018.
  31. ↑ "PSG loss to Barcelona now among most epic choke jobs in sports history". 9 March 2017.
  32. ↑ "Study proves 'nervous nineties' exist". Retrieved 3 June 2018.
  33. ↑ Bull, Andy (March 25, 2011). "Deja vu all over again as South Africa choke and exit the World Cup". Guardian.co.uk. London. Retrieved June 13, 2011.
  34. ↑ Alter, Jamie (23 June 2013). "India lift Champions Trophy after England choke in 20-over final". IBN. Retrieved 23 June 2013.
  35. ↑ Kiszla, Mark (2014-02-20). "Kiszla: U.S. women's hockey loss a noble Olympic choke at Sochi". Denver Post.
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