Photos by Christina McDonnell

Sport Psychology

Performance Under Pressure

Inspired by her own experiences as a young athlete, Carly Block studies athletes’ well-being, resilience, and endurance

How do goalies stay strong under pressure when their team’s victory—or defeat—rests on their ability to stop the other team from scoring? Despite their importance, goalies’ individualized role separates them from their coaches and teammates. While their teammates build camaraderie by training together, goalies often train alone. On top of that, some coaches often misunderstand goalies’ position, leading to higher levels of stress when coaches need to correct their mistakes.

A lecturer in sport psychology, Carly Block focuses much of her research on how athletes perform under pressure, especially soccer goalies and their analogues in other sports, like ice hockey, lacrosse, and field hockey. Like many other sport psychology professionals, Block, a self-described sports fanatic, developed an interest in the field in part because of her own experiences. 

Growing up, Block was a swimmer and a water polo player. She started college at Florida State University not sure what she wanted to study but knowing that she liked sports and wanted to help others. 

Her specific interest in goalkeepers comes from her own experience. “I was a substitute goalie once when I was a kid,” she says. “I cried in goal, and my soccer career ended right then.” 

But while her career as a goalie may have been fleeting, its influence on her certainly wasn’t. “I kept seeing my experience when I watched goalies in all these sports,” she says. “I wanted to know how they handle these pressures. These are supposed to be team sports, but the win or loss is reflected on the goalie’s performance.” 

Block scanned the literature for research on the psychology of goalies and often came up short. “Most of it was about performance or physical tasks, or it was more statistical,” she says.  “There was limited research about goalies’ own experiences in the sport and on their mental game.”

“Life is a performance“

As part of BU Wheelock’s Performance, Recovery & Optimization Lab, which focuses on how to help athletes strengthen their skills and respond to setbacks, Block studies athletes’ well-being, resilience, mental flexibility, and endurance. 

Block also applies her theoretical knowledge to work as a certified mental performance consultant (CMPC) to help athletes overcome real-world challenges. Although CMPCs may or may not be licensed psychologists, they are still rigorously trained professionals who work with athletes to encourage them to reach peak performance. 

“When I work one-on-one with athletes, I use evidence- and theory-based interventions so I can apply what I’m researching,” she says. 

In March 2024, Block and her PRO Lab colleagues will cohost the 2024 BU Wheelock Forum: Thriving Individuals, Teams, and Systems. Drawing from research on the psychology of high-performing athletes, Forum participants will explore ways to develop talent across a variety of disciplines. Block cites surgeons, CEOs, police officers, and members of the military as examples of people who must perform under high pressure. 

“Life is a performance, and I’m excited to have everyone learn more about what sport and performance psychology entail,” she says.