Mood and emotion
Tennis legend John McEnroe in 1979. Image credit: Anefo / Croes, R.C.
If only I could tame the lion inside me without putting out the fire.
John McEnroe
John McEnroe is regarded as one of the greatest tennis players of all time, winning seven Grand Slams in an era that also included Bjorn Borg and Jimmy Connors. He was famous for his on-court explosive temper when calls went against him or he made unforced errors. Watch the videos below to see him action:
McEnroe viewed his ultra competitive nature as both a blessing and a curse. For most athletes the loss of emotional control can be extremely detrimental to performance.
Being in the wrong mood can also be an important determinant of sport performance. Feeling “below par” or “not quite up for it” is typically not accepted as a valid excuse for poor performance, although elite athletes are only human and experience bad moods like the rest of us.
Understanding moods and emotions
This section will examine moods and emotions and how they relate to performance. You will:
- Understand how mood and emotion affect sport performance.
- Examine mood profiling and assess your own mood responses using the Brunel Mood Scale (BRUMS; Terry et al., 1999, 2003).
- Be introduced to a range of mood regulation strategies.