The Matching Hypothesis

While preparing for an important game, an athlete becomes very anxious before the
competition and worries she will make a mistake causing the coach to take him out of the
game. This worry results in the athlete losing concentration and focusing on the wrong cues.
Given the matching hypothesis, answer the following questions.

1. What anxiety reduction technique should you use for this athlete, and why?

The technique the athlete should be using to stay focused it to remain in the moment.

Worrying about anything else will cause stress.

2. Describe the implementation of this technique in detail.

Thinking about any thing but the moment will increase stress and will cause a lack of

performance.

3. A week prior to the game, should an emotion-focused coping strategy or a problem-

focused strategy be used? Why?

Problem focused strategy should be used, this give the athletes time to adjust and
reduce stress.

From R.S. Weinberg and D. Gould, 2019, Foundations of Sport 1

and Exercise Psychology Web Study Guide, 7E (Champaign, IL:
Human Kinetics).
From R.S. Weinberg and D. Gould, 2019, Foundations of Sport 2
and Exercise Psychology Web Study Guide, 7E (Champaign, IL:
Human Kinetics).