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Anxiety is a psychological state that, if uncontrolled, can hinder a performance greatly. Individuals must be able to cope with this anxiety in a positive manner so that it doesn't consume them and cause catastrophic results. Anxiety as a form of arousal is beneficial if kept in check because it make the athlete aware of what is about to transpire. When dealing with arousal it is important to understand the theories behind it. The Drive Theory states that "as an individuals arousal or state anxiety increases, so too does his or her performance." The Inverted - U Hypothesis states if arousal is too low then perfomance is low and if arousal is too high then performance is also low, therefore arousal must be at an optimal level for the individual in order to reach peak performance. Individual Zones of Optimal Functioning is a concept which states that " A person's zone of optimal functioning may be at the lower, middle or upper end of the anxiety continuum.
In the Multidimensional Anxiety Theory arousal is said to inverse affected by an increase in state anxiety, therefore decreasing performance. In Kerr's model, the Reversal Theory, he establishes that if an athlete see arousal as a pleasant experience, the the performance will benefit, however if is viewed negatively then performance will be hindered. When discussing Hardy's Catastrophe Model, it becomes apparent that arousal can be beneficial, but only to a certain point. Hardy believes that as arousal increases it forms an inverted-U as stated previously but if anxiety surpasses the levels of optimal performance then catastrophic failure occurs and performance is at its worst. The athlete must then stop, relax, re-focus and use visualization techniques in order to get to a state of acceptable performance again. With that said, it is beneficial to understand how to employ relaxation techniques in order to cope with situations like this.
Relaxation exercises are used in order to relieve stress from the muscles and clear the mind in order to focus a nd perform at ones best, whether it be in practice or a game situation. There are different types of relaxation techniques. They include Breath Control, which essentially is controlling your breathing in order to reduce anxiety and relax the body and mind. Secondly a process to indicate relaxation needs is Biofeedback. This is where the bodies physiologic all processes indicate a need for relaxation, ie. heart rate.
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Research essay sample on Techniques In Order Optimal Functioning Performance
