In order to reach the professional level in any sport, you need to be able to perform consistently well under all situations. While most are able to do this, some players, coaches and teams perform poorly under pressure. Known as "choking," this inability to perform under pressure affects most athletes at some point in their careers.
Choking
Despite the term's unique meaning in the sports world, the use of "choking" in sports arises from its original meaning. In his 2008 book "Sport and Exercise Psychology: The Key Concepts," Ellis Cashmore notes that choking on food can lead to suffocation, paralysis and death. As players who choke cannot easily recover from their poor performance under pressure, Cashmore suggests that the symptoms and effects are similar in both situations. While choking in the sports world is not fatal, the loss of fans, respect, sponsorships and contracts that arise from consistent choking can kill an athlete's career.
Clutch
In contrast with players who choke, "clutch" play is the ability to perform better than normal under pressure. As one of the meanings of the word is a difficult or critical situation, however, an athlete's clutch play can vary from poor to excellent. "Chokers" or "choke artists," for example, have particularly poor clutch play. In contrast, those who regularly exhibit excellent clutch play are known as "clutch players."
Examples
Due to the regular substitutions and fast pace of the game, basketball exemplifies the importance of choking and clutch play. When a game comes down to the final basket, coaches often call a timeout and make last-minute substitutions. The ensuing play typically revolves around one or more clutch players, with defenders attempting to prevent the ball from reaching these players. In this situation, the defender and her team choke if the ball reaches a clutch player and she scores the winning basket. If the clutch player misses or her team loses possession, however, she and her team have choked.
Explanation
In an April 25, 2011 report for "BBC Sport," Matthew Syed notes that choking arises from excessively thinking about or focusing on your play. Under normal situations, highly skilled athletes rarely think about their performance. Known as "expert-induced amnesia," the years of practice that go into producing a professional athlete allow him to play without thinking. Once in a high-pressure situation, however, he may begin to think about plays that he would normally perform instinctively. This can lead him to perform in a manner contrary to his instincts, potentially resulting in him choking on a routine play.
References
- "Sport and Exercise Psychology: The Key Concepts, Second Edition"; Ellis Cashmore; 2008
- The Word Detective: Clutch, in the
- "The Observer"; How Science Can Save You From Choking; Jonah Lehrer; July 2009
- "Journal of Sport and Exercise Psychology"; Choking Vs. Clutch Performance: A Study of Sport Performance Under Pressure; Mark Otten; October 2009
- BBC Sport; The Psychology of Choking; Matthew Syed; April 2011
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