Concentration disturbing factors: a study case with the Olympic Beach Volley Champions

Abstract

The ability to control thought processes and to focus an appropriate stimulus during an athletic performance has been considered as an important psychological competence to achieve an efficient competition outcome. The present study was conducted with a male Beach Volley Olympic team and aimed to analyze internal and external factors that influence concentration state of high performance athletes. Data were collected during six phases of the world circuit that preceded Athens' Olympic Games. For this purpose, were used a specific performance feedback instrument (adapted from Ravizza, 1991) designed to assess the factors that disturb concentration. This instrument allowed diagnosing perceived consequences and techniques or strategies used to recover and/or maintain athletic concentration. Information was written by the athletes in a period of 30 min after the end of each game. Data analysis was conducted using the content analysis technique. Situational factors (personal competence, conduct and/or opponent performance, climatic conditions) seemed to be the main concentration disturbing factors. The consequences of concentration loss referred by the athletes were changes in the emotional state and/or mood and attention focusing. Cognitive techniques (self-inform, imagery and attention focusing) were the most used among athletes.