Doctoral Dissertations

Date of Award

8-1994

Degree Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Doctor of Philosophy

Major

Education

Major Professor

Craig A. Wrisberg

Committee Members

Kathleen deMarrais, Bill Morgan, Howard Pollio

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to describe the experience of elite decathlon participants during their most memorable or meaningful performance. To describe the experience of these athletes, phenomenological interviews were conducted with each participant. This methodology was chosen because of its emphasis on the participant as expert. Much like the process of the athlete-sport psychology consultant interaction in a mental training consultation, the phenomenological interview consists of an original question directing the participant to describe a particular experience which is then followed by questions designed to help the interviewer make sure she or he has understood what the athlete has said during the course of the interview. Participants in this study consisted of seven elite decathletes, currently competing at the national and international level. One interview was conducted with each participant and lasted, on the average, from one and a half to two hours. Four major themes emerged from these interviews: (1) "The 1500" (2) Distractions (3) Awareness of a Need to Recognize and/or React to Distractions and (4) Focusing. Athletes in this study were aware of "the 1500" to varying degrees throughout the competition, and it became progressively more figural for them as the competition proceeded toward the final event; the 1500 itself. These athletes experienced several distractions during the course of the competition and several of these distractions were discussed in more detail: Lack of Preparation, Level of Talent, Fatigue, A Bad Event, Fear, Pain, Weather, Awareness of Others, and Camaraderie. Participants also described having an ongoing awareness or "need" to deal with or react to distractions as they occurred. Sub themes in this category consist of Getting Rid of Distractions and The Need to Focus. Once athletes were aware of a specific distraction they reported having specific strategies to help narrow their focus to the task of performing optimally in each event. Sub themes of Focusing include: Imaging/Visualizing, Being Aware of Keys, Competing Only Against the Self, Confidence (Proper Training), Consistency, and Camaraderie. Results of the present study were related both to peak performance in sport and to more general issues in the phenomenological description of the lived body and with the phenomenological experience of other people in competition. Finally, implications for coaches and sport psychology consultants as well as implications for future research were discussed.

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