ABSTRACT
Emotions also play an important role outside the competitive arena by influencing athletes' motivation to train, their adherence to injury rehabilitation programmes, and the way in which they deal with retirement from sport. This chapter explores the nature of emotions, and outlines a number of prominent theories that have sought to explain the emotion–performance relationship. The chapter considers how a number of specific negative and positive emotions might influence performance proficiency, whilst the fourth section examines a variety of instruments and methodological approaches that have been used to measure emotions in athletes. It reveals some of the regulatory processes that athletes may use in seeking to deal with the stressors and emotions they encounter in competitive environments. The chapter then focuses on an emerging body of empirical evidence on the coping strategies used by athletes. It finally highlights some unresolved issues and a discussion of some potentially fruitful areas for future research.
