Stewart T. Cotterill

Developing Effective Pre-performance Routines in Golf: Why Don't We Ask the Golfer?

The purpose of this investigation was to explore the nature of pre-performance routines used in golf. Six male international golfers were recruited to participate in this study (Age M = 29; handicap M = +1.5; years playing golf M = 16.25). The golfers were interviewed individually to gain an understanding of participants’ perceptions of the nature and function of their pre-performance routines. The data were thematically analyzed using interpretative phenomenological analysis. In total, 9 super-ordinate themes emerged: allocation of attention, psychological skills, shot selection, routine mind set, routine composition, compulsive behaviors, routine evolution/application, top players, and moderating factors. Results suggest that the development of routines is dependent on the personality, coping resources, and situational appraisals of each individual performer.

Pre-performance routines in sport: current understanding and future directions

The development of a pre-performance routine continues to be an intuitively appealing and widely accepted technique to enhance preparation for performance in sport. However, actual understanding falls somewhat short of that required to recommend with confidence the development of a pre-performance routine. At a fundamental level it is still not clear what function routines fulfil, what they should consist of or the most effective way to teach them. This review seeks to clarify current understanding and highlight areas requiring further attention. Greater understanding is required to understand the psychological components of routines as well as understanding the process through which a routine is developed/taught.

Athlete leadership in sport teams: Current understanding and future directions

ABSTRACT Leadership is a fundamental aspect of sports performance, particularly within team sport environments. Over the past 25 years there has been significant research exploring the role of the coach/manager in this regard. However, this only represents one aspect of leadership within the sporting domain. Equally important, although far less examined, is the concept of athlete leadership. The role of athlete leaders, both formal (e.g., the captain) and informal (such as motivators and cultural architects) can have a significant impact upon a range of team-related factors including satisfaction, cohesion, and team dynamics. However, the mechanisms through which this impact occurs are less well understood. Also, while the development of leadership skills has been proposed as an important aspect of coach development programmes there is very little consensus regarding the approaches that should be adopted in developing athlete leaders and their associated leadership skills. This paper reviews the existing literature relating to athlete leadership seeking to provide clarity regarding current understanding. Building upon this base the paper then highlights future areas for research and theoretical development.

Experiences of Developing Pre-performance Routines with Elite Cricket Players

While there is much research exploring the nature of pre-performance routines in sport there is very little work that outlines the process of developing and implementing these routines. This paper documents the development of pre-performance routines in professional cricket prior to the start of the season. The paper describes the method and approach adopted by the sport psychology consultant to develop specific individualized routines for the players involved. The consultant briefly reflects on the process, its outcomes and potential implications for future practice.

An exploration of pre-performance routines, self-efficacy, anxiety and performance in semi-professional soccer

Abstract Whilst much research has suggested a positive link between pre-performance routines (PPRs) and performance, the specific mechanisms of the process have yet to be understood fully. It has been suggested that the PPR may influence performance through lowering the athletes anxiety, and/or increasing their self-efficacy, but to date this has not specifically been explored in detail. As a result the aim of the current study was to explore the impact of specific individualised PPRs on performance, anxiety and self-efficacy in semi-professional soccer players. Participants were 20 male semi-professional soccer players (M = 19.45, SD = 2.81) recruited from clubs in England. Adopting a repeated measure design, players were tested on performance, anxiety, and self-efficacy pre- and post a 7-day intervention period in which the participants learnt a new PPR. The data were analysed using factorial mixed measures analysis of variance (ANOVAs), with the results revealing a significant difference in somatic anxiety for the experimental group and a decrease in performance for the control group. The study provides further support for the suggestion that the PPR can enhance performance by reducing experiences of anxiety prior to performance.

Clinical outcomes of anatomic, all-inside, anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction

BACKGROUND This paper reports the outcomes of patients undergoing ACL reconstruction using a TransLateral single bundle, all-inside hamstring technique at a minimum of two year follow-up. METHODS The semitendinosus alone is harvested, quadrupled and attached in series to two adjustable suspensory fixation devices. Femoral and tibial sockets are produced using a retrograde drill. The graft is deployed, fixed and tensioned on both tibia and femur. Patients were evaluated preoperatively using the KOOS, Lysholm and Tegner scores and at six, 12 and 24months postoperatively. Objective assessment of knee laxity was performed using the KT-1000 along with goniometric measurement of range or motion. RESULTS One hundred and eight patients, mean age 30.9years (range 15 to 61) were included. Mean follow-up 49.8months (range 30-66). The mean increase in KOOS at two years was 30.3 points; Lysholm, 33.1 points; Tegner Activity scale, 2.0 levels. These were all statistically significant (p<0.001). Range of motion in the reconstructed knee approximated the uninjured knee by 12months and was restored by two years. KT-1000 showed significant reduction in side-side difference to no more than 2.4mm at all postoperative time points (p<0.001). Re-rupture rate in this series was 6.5%, all following episodes of significant additional postoperative trauma to the knee. CONCLUSIONS TransLateral all-inside ACL reconstruction demonstrates good medium term subjective and objective outcomes with a low complication and failure rate.

Tearing up the page: re-thinking the development of effective learning environments in higher education

The development of effective learning environments in higher education (HE) appears to become increasingly prioritised by HE institutions. This approach reflects an increasingly ‘consumer’ focused student body, and HE attempt to further quantify the quality of their products. However, all too often attempts to build more effective learning environments are hampered by the structures and processes that have historically existed in HE. The traditional lecture-seminar approach is increasingly been seen as not supporting effective student learning. As a result, the quality of the student learning experience is being compromised. This paper explores some of the factors currently limiting the development of effective learning environments and considers relevant questions and possible solutions. In particular, this paper explores the degree to which University interactions with student groups are driven by quality assurance processes rather than for maximising student learning.

Developing decision-making for performance: a framework to guide applied practice in cricket.

Effective decision-making forms an important aspect of the game of cricket. In particular, the ability of players to process relevant perceptual information to select an appropriate course of action is crucial. However, although the importance of decision-making in cricket is universally accepted, there is currently little consistency in the approaches adopted to develop this important ability. This article presents a practical framework for decision-making in the game of cricket, specifically focusing on batters and bowlers. Building upon this framework, relevant intervention strategies are presented that seek to specifically target the development of decision-making in the game of cricket.

The experience of captaincy in professional sport: The case of elite professional rugby

Abstract The captain is perceived to be an important member of the leadership structure within teams across many professional sports. However, while there is a general acceptance that this is the case, there is very little research exploring the role and associated demands at an elite level. As a result, the aim of this study was to explore the captaincy experiences of elite professional rugby union captains. The participants were eight male captains purposefully sampled for this study. Participants were interviewed individually to gain an understanding of each participant’s captaincy experiences. The data were thematically analysed using interpretative phenomenological analysis. Nine super-ordinate themes emerged in the study: role, skills, requirements, challenges, the coach, development, experience, context, and approach. Results suggest that the captaincy role is broader than previously highlighted, particularly at the elite level. Also, the study highlights inconsistencies in the selection of captains and a lack of formal developmental support for elite rugby captains. As a result, future research should explore the development of specific evidence-based approaches to captain selection and development.

An Exploration of the Perceived Health, Life Skill, and Academic Benefits of Dinghy Sailing for 9-13 Year-old School Children

ABSTRACT Research evidence suggests that outdoor education offers significant potential in priming healthy physical activity behaviors, developing life skills, enhancing self-esteem and promoting improved academic performance. The aim of the current study was to explore from a cross-sectional perspective the perceived benefits of a dinghy sailing program on 9–13-year-old school children. Participants (n = 38) were drawn from a diverse range of relevant participation and stakeholder groups, including school children, teachers and sailing instructors. Semi-structured interviews (adults) and focus groups (children) were used to collect data, with inductive data analysis methods applied. Six superordinate themes arose from the data highlighting physical and mental health benefits as well as the potential to development key life skills, self-esteem and the possible interaction with other aspects of the school curriculum to enhance student learning.