High self-confidence or sport-confidence has been defined as a key psychological characteristic required by elite athletes, promoting optimal performance and helping manage competitive anxiety. Investigations have demonstrated that a mix of psychological interventions such as self-talk, goal setting, imagery, pre-performance routines and relaxation techniques are used by elite athletes as coping strategies. To date, most of this research has been carried out on collegiate athletes across a variety of sports but with limited research attention on equestrian sports. This study, using semi-structured interviews, explored five professional event riders’ experiences of psychological interventions used leading up to and during elite level international competition. Thematic analysis identified two meta-themes; Planning and Preparation, Arousal and Distraction Management. The riders outlined the importance of goal-setting, managing time and pre-performance routines as part of planning and preparation. They discussed the use of interventions such as self-talk and imagery in managing arousal levels with support teams playing a key role in distraction management. The findings from this study support previous research, suggesting that these riders have similar approaches to other non-equestrian athletes in their use of a combination of coping strategies to manage competition anxiety and build self-confidence.
RESEARCH ARTICLE
Straight from the horse’s mouth: understanding professional event riders’ mental preparation for maximising self-confidence prior to competition using thematic analysis
S. McGinn Related information
1MindOdyssey, 8 Saddlers Mews, Andover, Hants, SP11 8FB, United Kingdom.
*Corresponding author: sally@mindodyssey. co. uk
, D. Alcock Related information*Corresponding author: sally@mindodyssey.
2University of West England (UWE Bristol) Frenchay Campus, Coldharbour Lane, Bristol, BS16 1QY, United Kingdom.
, L.J. Cameron Related information3University Centre Sparsholt, Winchester, Hants, SO21 2NF, United Kingdom.
Comparative Exercise Physiology: 14
(4)- Pages: 261 - 270
Published Online: November 08, 2018
Abstract
Keywords: equestrian, coping strategies, interventions, anxiety
2023 Journal Impact Factor
0.9
source: Journal Impact Factor 2023™ from Clarivate™
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