ABSTRACT
This chapter provides a current performance-under-pressure review, focusing on closed, self-paced tasks only. In self-paced tasks, optimal performance occurs when athletes can focus their attention on appropriate task-based cognitions prior to, during, and following performance. Pre-performance routines may include different physical, attentional, and/ or psychological skills elements. In self-paced tasks, optimal performance occurs when athletes can focus their attention on appropriate task-based cognitions prior to, during, and following performance. One seminal performance routine that offered steps to consider prior to, during, and following skill execution of a closed, self-paced task is Singer's strategy, which is designed to facilitate the learning, skill acquisition, and maintenance of a skill. Similar to research on PPRs generally, investigations on performance effects of extensive PPRs “under pressure” have focused on two types of closed, self-paced skills within a few sports. More specifically, PPRs seem to have objective and subjective beneficial effects on performance under pressure.
