Impact of mental factors on performanceImpact of somatic anxiety on performance

Mental factors can be divided into two different sections: those concerned with cognition and those reflecting psychological traits. They impact performance in different ways.

Part ofPhysical EducationFactors impacting on performance

Impact of somatic anxiety on performance

Some of the impacts anxiety can have include:

  • muscle tension
  • shakes
  • sweaty palms

Muscle tension

Muscle tension could impact a rugby player when they are about to take a penalty kick to give their team the lead.

If your muscles are very tense, your actions will be rigid and as a result, less power will be generated. This might result in the penalty kick having insufficient force to reach the posts and the opportunity to take the lead lost.

Question

Using the 3-step process, how might anxiety have a negative impact on performance in rugby?

Photo of a rugby player about to take a penalty kick
Image caption,
Anxiety can have a negative impact on a performer when they are about to take a penalty kick in rugby because their muscles could become very tense and rigid.