The effects of high pressure on the point of no return in simulated penalty kicks

We investigated the effects of high pressure on the point of no return or the minimum time required for a kicker to respond to the goalkeeper's dive in a simulated penalty kick task. The goalkeeper moved to one side with different times available for the participants to direct the ball to the o...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of sport & exercise psychology 2012-02, Vol.34 (1), p.83-101
Main Authors: Navarro, Martina, Miyamoto, Nelson, van der Kamp, John, Morya, Edgard, Ranvaud, Ronald, Savelsbergh, Geert J P
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adult
Athletes
Athletic Performance - psychology
Attention
Effectiveness
Female
Humans
Linear Models
Logistic Models
Male
Psychophysics
Reaction Time
Soccer
Soccer - psychology
Sports rules
Stress
Stress, Psychological - physiopathology
Stress, Psychological - psychology
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Summary:We investigated the effects of high pressure on the point of no return or the minimum time required for a kicker to respond to the goalkeeper's dive in a simulated penalty kick task. The goalkeeper moved to one side with different times available for the participants to direct the ball to the opposite side in low-pressure (acoustically isolated laboratory) and high-pressure situations (with a participative audience). One group of participants showed a significant lengthening of the point of no return under high pressure. With less time available, performance was at chance level. Unexpectedly, in a second group of participants, high pressure caused a qualitative change in which for short times available participants were inclined to aim in the direction of the goalkeeper's move. The distinct effects of high pressure are discussed within attentional control theory to reflect a decreasing efficiency of the goal-driven attentional system, slowing down performance, and a decreasing effectiveness in inhibiting stimulus-driven behavior.
ISSN:0895-2779
1543-2904
DOI:10.1123/jsep.34.1.83