The four factors do not just impact on performance, they can also impact upon your training and development. Let’s consider this now.

Explain the impact mental factors can have on performance development. (4).
KEY:
Statement
Point of explanation

‘Anxiety levels can impact my performance development. If I suffer from cognitive anxiety, I may feel nervous about attempting a higher goal or an overloaded session meaning I could be filled with lots of doubts and I will not perform with conviction during the approach and I may not improve.’

‘Concentration is another mental factor that can impact my performance during training. Being concentrated can help me focus on my coaches instructions on how to carry out an approach whilst blocking out the distractions of others talking meaning I can carry out the approach correctly and therefore improve.’

‘Motivation can also impact my performance during training. If I am highly motivated, I will really want to achieve my goals meaning I will give my all in training and will even do extra outside the training ground to help me improve my performance levels.’

‘Finally, mental toughness can also impact my performance during training. If I am mentally tough, I can keep going during tough moments of my sessions and never give up to ensure that my performance keeps progressing and does not plateau.’

Explain the impact emotional factors can have on performance development. (4).
KEY:
Statement
Point of explanation

‘Failing to control my anger can impact my performance development. If I were to get frustrated at my teammates for ‘mucking around’ during sessions, it can lead to me shouting at them and arguments breaking out which can lead to us not focusing during training and our performance not improving.’

‘Failing to control my levels of fear can also impact my performance development. If I were to have a fear of injury whilst performing a handspring in gymnastics, it may lead to me being hesitant in my attempts to improve this skill and me not generating enough speed to carry out the skill correctly and me not progressing.’

‘Sadness can also impact my training performances. When my coach told us she was leaving, my teammates and I were upset meaning we were not fully focused or motivated during the session meaning we did not carry out approaches correctly and we hardly developed our weaknesses.’

‘Finally, the level of trust I have in my teammates could impact my performance development. When trying to improve my headstand, I did not trust that my partner would not catch my feet when rising up meaning I did not fully commit to the movement and never had enough momentum to carry out the skill correctly and I never improved this skill.’

Explain the impact social factors can have on performance development. (4).
KEY:
Statement
Point of explanation

‘Co-operation skills can impact performance development. Being co-operative during a feeder practice in tennis can help improve performance because you can provide feeds to your partner and give them feedback on their strengths and areas for development.’

‘Etiquette can also impact performance development. If performers are demonstrating etiquette during conditioned games, it can lead to performers feeling less intimidated playing against teams that are better than them and therefore giving100% effort which can help them improve.’

‘Relationships is another factor that could impact performance development. Having poor relationships with a teammate can mean that you do not respect their opinion and are therefore unwilling to listen to their feedback meaning you could lose one source of improvement.’

‘Finally, team dynamics can impact performance development. Being part of a team that has high team dynamics means they will support and encourage you when you fail to reach a goal to help you bounce back in your next training session.’