The Effect of Anxiety on Decisions 

One of the thrilling aspects of watching a football game is the penalty kicks, where a player is granted a single direct free kick at the goal, defended only by the opponent’s goalkeeper. A penalty kick is awarded when a foul occurs within the penalty box and serves as a pivotal moment that can alter the course of the game in an instant. The crowd roars as the shooter prepares to take their shot, intensifying the pressure on both the shooter and the goalkeeper. This poster delves into the psychological and neuroscientific aspects that influence players during penalty kicks, focusing on the impact of pressure and the decision-making process.

 

Long-Term Effect: Decision Fatigue

The competitive nature of soccer demands that players make split-second decisions throughout the entirety of a match. From deciding whether to pass the ball or continue dribbling to anticipating opponents' movements, players face a constant barrage of choices. This continuous decision-making process can lead to decision fatigue, a psychologicalconcept proposed by Baumeister et al. (1998), which describes the decline in the quality of decisions after prolonged decision-making. This phenomenon heightens the risk of suboptimal decision-making during critical moments, such as penalty kicks.

 

Short-Term Effect: Pressure Control
In addition to the accumulated effects of decision fatigue, the inherently stressful nature of penalty kicks imposes immediate physiological stress on players, particularly affecting brain regions responsible for pressure and impulse control. According to Smith (2013), stress hormones like cortisol can impair the prefrontal cortex, which governs executive functions such as impulse control and decision-making. Under stressful conditions, these executive functions become compromised, jeopardizing players' ability to cope with pressure and make optimal decisions.

 

Making the Best Decision
Penalty kicks epitomize moments of highly stressful decision-making under pressure. Players must consider multiple factors simultaneously, including the goalkeeper's movements, their own shooting skills, and the psychological intensity of the moment. After carefully assessing these factors, players must decide on the optimal shooting trajectory. During this critical period, cognitive processes such as visual perception, spatial awareness, and emotional control come into play. It is essential for players to develop specific strategies during training sessions to enhance their decision-making abilities under pressure. Examples of such training techniques include visualization exercises, mindfulness practices to regulate breathing and maintain focus, and the development of personal pre-kick routines as stabilizing anchors for mental support (Anderson & Morris, 2019).

 

By understanding the interplay between pressure, decision-making, and brain function in the
context of penalty kicks, players and coaches can implement effective strategies to optimize
performance in high-pressure situations on the soccer field.

 

 

REFERENCE
[1] Baumeister, R. F., et al. (1998). Ego Depletion: Is the Active Self a Limited Resource?
Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 74(5), 1252–1265.
[2] Smith, J. (2018). The Neuroscience of Pressure in Sports. Journal of Sports Psychology,
10(2), 145-162.
[3] Anderson, R., & Morris, T. (2019). Visualization in Sport. Routledge.