Mental factor
The mental factor concerns cognitive processes, ie where the brain and thinking are involved. This includes concentration, decision-making and level of arousal.
Level of arousal
The level of mental arousal is the level of excitement, anticipation, stress, aggression, apprehension and nervousness. It refers to the state of mental preparedness for participation in an activity.
Impact on performance
A swimmer in a final with too high a level of mental arousal will be very nervous on the blocks and will have much more chance of false starting, leading to elimination from the race.
A sprinter who is able to control their excitement before a race will be much more relaxed in the blocks, which means they should start well and have a better chance of winning the race.
A footballer able to control their nerves before a penalty kick will be able to block out any distractions. This means they will make sure they stick with the initial decision for the direction they are going to take the penalty kick, giving it much more chance of going in.
Concentration
Concentration is the ability to stay fully focused on a task for the full period of time that a task is happening. This may be following a tactic, marking a player or carrying out a skill repeatedly.
Impact on performance
A volleyball player with good concentration will be able to watch their opponent’s movement and know when to make a block, giving the team a better chance of remaining in the point.
A tennis player with low levels of concentration will start to get distracted as the match goes on. They will then react much more slowly and not get returns in. In turn this could cause frustration and further mistakes.
Poor concentration could cause a rugby forward who is a front jumper in a line out to miss the opponents trying a quicker, shorter line out. If a rugby team is unable to structure a defensive line quickly enough there is more chance of conceding a try.
Decision-making
Decision-making is when the performer makes a voluntary choice from a set of alternatives. This decision will usually lead to a movement, action, tactical change or selected skill being undertaken.
Impact on performance
A 1500m runner nearing the final lap of a race will know how their body is coping and what the opponents are like. If the runner knows some opponenents have a fater finish, she might show good decision-making by increasing the pace from the bell to ensure the stronger sprinters cannot use that strength in this race. This gives the runner a better chance of winning.
A gymnast has two different vaults to choose from for her final performance. The easier one does not award her as many marks, the more challenging one is much higher value but the landing is very tricky. The gymnast chooses the difficult one but falls on the landing, which gives her much less chance of winning.