This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies. Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: New research from NTNU's Department of Psychology indicates that elite soccer players experience lower levels of competitive anxiety than amateur players, despite performing under intense scrutiny. Norwegian goalkeeper Orjan Nyland misjudges his pass, delivering the ball to the feet of Gonçalo Ramos.
The Portuguese striker chips the ball into an empty net. A momentary lapse in concentration by an individual, and Norway loses the match. It is easy to imagine this error weighing heavily on Nyland's mind.
But the experienced player has been praised for his reaction amid a backlash in the media. "I found it fascinating how calm Nyland appeared in his postgame interview after such an important match," says clinical psychologist Magnus Ueland Nygaard, who coauthored the research paper. The goalkeeper's manager, Ståle Solbakken, was visibly furious about the mistake, and many commentators have called for Nyland to be replaced in the upcoming international matches.
"Nyland addressed the fact that mistakes happen, that they are part of soccer. And if you dwell on them too much, you'll be preoccupied with them," explains Nygaard. "Of course, we do not know exactly what is happening inside the player's mind.
However, Nyland's reaction in the interview might be reflective of both the team's support system and the psychological resilience he has gained from a long career." The researchers surveyed 150 Norwegian soccer players, men and women, ages 16 to 40, playing at different levels of the sport. They were especially interested in "metacognitive beliefs": how the players thought about their own thoughts and what impact this had on their competitive anxiety. Competitive anxiety refers to an athlete's emotional reaction to stressful situations in sports.
Previous studies have shown that it negatively affects performance. Anxiety manifests itself in physical tension, worry and lack of concentration. It is reported as the most important contributor to inadequate performance in soccer and is also associated with increased injury risk.
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