Norwegian goalkeeper Ørjan Nyland faced a significant moment in a recent international match when he misjudged a pass, allowing Portuguese striker Gonçalo Ramos to score. This mistake contributed to Norway's loss, and Nyland's reaction under media scrutiny drew both praise and criticism. Clinical psychologist Magnus Ueland Nygaard, who co-authored a study on competitive anxiety in football, noted the importance of mental resilience after such errors.
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Nyland acknowledged that mistakes are a part of football and emphasized the need to move past them to avoid becoming preoccupied. His response may reflect both personal psychological resilience and the support from his team, according to Nygaard.
The study surveyed 150 Norwegian footballers, both male and female, aged 16 to 40, to explore how their thoughts about their performance impacted their competitive anxiety. Competitive anxiety includes emotional responses to stress that can negatively influence performance, often manifesting as physical tension, worry, and lack of focus. Researchers indicated that anxiety is a leading cause of poor performance and increased injury risk.
Current sports psychology typically addresses athletes' expectations about performance, but Nygaard noted that metacognitive beliefs—how players perceive their own thoughts—have been less explored. The research found that amateur players experienced higher levels of competitive anxiety than elite players, potentially due to greater experience in managing pressure. Older players reported less anxiety compared to younger ones, and women exhibited notably higher anxiety levels than men.
Coaching techniques that incorporate aspects of metacognitive therapy, like attentional training and detached mindfulness, aim to enhance performance. These strategies have gained attention through popular media portrayals, such as the television series Ted Lasso, which showcases exaggerated psychological coaching techniques. Real-life examples, like coach Per-Mathias Høgmo's approach of having players focus on controllable aspects, align with these methods.
The study also examined the varying experiences of elite versus amateur athletes, finding that elite players might use visualization techniques to prepare mentally, as seen with figures like Cristiano Ronaldo and Michael Phelps. However, reliance on visualization can sometimes lead to increased anxiety rather than improved performance.
Nygaard and his co-author Audun Havnen emphasized the distinction between positive and negative metacognitive beliefs. Players who view worry as beneficial may find it aids their preparation, while others may become trapped in cycles of negative thoughts, which can be detrimental.
The research highlights the need for tailored interventions based on an athlete's experience level. In a sport characterized by small margins, the mental strategies athletes employ regarding their stress levels can significantly affect their performance.