16 th FINA World Sports Medicine Congress Using Competition Anxiety to Optimise Swimming Performance Professor Sheldon Hanton Cardiff School of Sport

Mental Toughness Natural or developed psychological edge that enables you to: –C–Cope better than opponents –U–Under pressure be: Consistent Determined Focused Confident In Control

Mental Toughness Framework Attitude & Mindset Training Competition Post- Competition

Mental Toughness Framework Attitude & Mindset Training Competition Post- Competition “Loving” Pressure Channelling Anxiety

The Demands of Elite Swimming Organisational Personal Performance

From Stress to Anxiety Direction Cognitive Anxiety –Mental nervousness Worries, concerns etc. Somatic Anxiety –Physical nervousness Tension, butterflies etc. Positive or Negative Direction

Expectation –Positive support –Negative pressure Pressure –Help you –Hurt you

Applied Research & Implications

Skill Level Direction Intensity High Intensity Low Intensity Positive Direction Negative Direction Confidence Elite Non Elite

Implications Type of stress management intervention Confidence protection management

Perceived Control & Goal Setting High Control Low Control Process Goals Performance Goals Outcome Goals Positive Anxiety Interpretations Negative Anxiety Interpretations

Implication Multiple goal setting strategy

Development Research Early unwanted negative experiences Gradually learning the benefits of anxiety –Acceptance and requirement –Concentration improvement –External persuasion Psychological routines

Intervention Research Competitive swimmers - Debilitators Intervention –Pre-Competition Routine Symptom Recreation and Restructuring –Pre-Race Routine Rationalization and Control

Direction Intensity High Intensity Low Intensity -ve +ve RACE 1 4 weeks RACE 2 8 weeks RACE 3 12 weeks RACE 4 16 weeks seconds+ 1.4 seconds+ 0.8 seconds-0.9 seconds Lifetime Best Confidence

Career Planning Wide ranging experiences Education on emotions Investment in mental skills development

Questions