CENTRO DE COMERCIO Y SERVICIOS REGIONAL TOLIMA

SERVICIO NACIONAL DE APRENDIZAJE

BILINGUALISM PROGRAM

NAME: DAINER MAURICIO VARGAS MENDOZA

1.Watch the video and read the following text

https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=30&v=CqgmozFr_GM&feature=emb_title

Researchers and sport psychologists have long been interested in identifying not just the causes or
mechanisms of choking, but specific techniques and strategies that athletes and other performers
can use to become more “pressure-proof.”

Being nervous is not a lot of fun, but avoiding pressure and practicing only in relaxed, comfortable
environments leaves us ill-prepared for the challenges and demands of actual performance
situations. Research suggests that it helps to practice performing under pressure well in advance of
the big game.

For instance, in a study involving two Dutch national-level basketball teams, researchers compared
a low-pressure approach to practicing free throws with a high-pressure approach, to see if the latter
would help athletes improve their ability to shoot accurately under pressure. For five weeks, the
players took several extra free throw attempts after warmups and after practice. One group of
athletes shot them in normal practice conditions (no pressure), while the other group shot their extra
free throws while competing against each other for prize money, being videotaped for analysis by
an expert coach, and being observed by their coach and teammates (high pressure).

Before going through this training, both teams performed worse under pressure. However, after five
weeks of pressure training, the team that practiced their free throws in anxiety-provoking conditions
not only avoided choking under pressure, but actually shot better when anxious (71.3 points while
calm; 78 points with anxiety). The team that practiced in relaxed conditions continued to perform
worse under pressure, suggesting that simply practicing more is not the solution to choking.

Indeed, research has identified several other techniques and strategies that can be an invaluable part
of “performance practice,” whether one is preparing for a piano recital, sales presentation, or golf
tournament.

You’ve undoubtedly seen NBA players engage in seemingly superstitious pre-free-throw routines
 CENTRO DE COMERCIO Y SERVICIOS REGIONAL TOLIMA
SERVICIO NACIONAL DE APRENDIZAJE
BILINGUALISM PROGRAM

on TV: bouncing the ball a certain way, spinning the ball, maybe even blowing a kiss. So a pair of
researchers decided to study NBA players’ pre-performance routines and see whether the
consistency of these routines might have anything to do with their accuracy. To answer this
question, they analyzed game film of all fourteen games of the 2006 NBA Western Conference
semifinals, including those between the Phoenix Suns and Los Angeles Clippers, as well as those of
the Dallas Mavericks and San Antonio Spurs.

They edited the game footage down to just the 15 players who shot at least 10 free throws over the
course of the series and analyzed each free throw for two measures of consistency:
the duration (i.e. length) of each player’s pre-performance routine and the sequence of each
routine (e.g. dribbling the ball, glancing at the hoop, pausing, spinning the ball, etc.).

They found that the duration of players’ routines did not affect accuracy very much. However, the
sequence did have a significant impact on performance. When players followed their regular pre-
performance routine, they shot approximately 84% from the line; when they deviated from their
routine, they made only 71% of their free throws.

These quirky routines can seem a little random, but it appears that there are key elements in each
routine that may be critical for performing optimally. One of which is gaze control.

A group of British and Canadian researchers conducted a study of 20 first-year surgical residents

who were working on their surgical knot-tying skills. Everyone received basic training on how to tie
the knot, but one group received additional technical instruction, while the other group received a
particular kind of gaze control training, known as “Quiet Eye.”

This involved focusing less on their hand movements and more on keeping their eyes locked on the
exact placement of the knot at each stage of the procedure.

Both groups improved after the training, and both did well when calm, but when the anxiety kicked
in (they were videotaped and told that their performance would not only be evaluated by their
teacher, but ranked among their peers), the Quiet Eye group continued to perform at a high level.
The regular training group choked, with performance regressing so much that it was as if they
hadn’t received any training at all!

2.Answer the following questions

“Choking” generally occurs among athletes, musicians, and other performers at what level?

AInternational-level
BNational-level
CAmateur-level
DAll levels
 CENTRO DE COMERCIO Y SERVICIOS REGIONAL TOLIMA
SERVICIO NACIONAL DE APRENDIZAJE
BILINGUALISM PROGRAM

According to distraction theories, which situations would most likely cause you to choke?

AWorrying about missing a shot

BWorrying about what the audience thinks of your talk
CWorrying about whether you’ll have enough time to finish a test
DAll of the above

Which of the following characteristics describe an individual who would be most susceptible to
choking?

AExtroverted
BIntroverted
CAnxious
DDepressed

Which of the following is an effective way to prevent choking?

ASpend more time practicing the skill

BPay closer attention to the mechanics of a skill
CPractice in high-pressure situations
DNone of the above

What are some high-pressure situations for you? What are some things you can do to practice under
pressure?

The situations of can pressure for me without, when I am in a competition and I

try to do things well and be satisfied, otherwise only the memory will remain and
correct mistakes.
to control the pressure, I just try to think things through, that is, I prepare myself
psychologically

Knowing what you know now about why people “choke,” how might that change the way you
watch your favorite athletes the next time you see them in action? What advice might you be able
to give them?

The advice that I could give to athletes is to control a calm, feel confident about
themselves and have good concentration, so that they can control their emotions
and pressure, both from athletes and coaches.