{"id":76493,"date":"2023-12-19T13:56:53","date_gmt":"2023-12-19T18:56:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/wheelock\/?post_type=bu-article&#038;p=76493"},"modified":"2024-01-08T17:15:02","modified_gmt":"2024-01-08T22:15:02","slug":"performance-under-pressure","status":"publish","type":"bu-article","link":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/wheelock\/news\/articles\/2023\/performance-under-pressure\/","title":{"rendered":"Performance Under Pressure"},"content":{"rendered":"\t<div class=\"wp-block-editorial-leadin news-block-editorial-leadin is-style-text-over-image has-media has-box has-media-focus-left-top has-text-position-x-center has-text-position-y-bottom has-tertiary-theme\">\n\t\t<div class=\"container-lockup\">\n\n\t\t\t<div class=\"wp-block-leadin-media\">\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<img width=\"2048\" height=\"1365\" src=\"\/wheelock\/files\/2023\/12\/IMG_7160.jpg\" class=\"\" alt=\"Shows Carly Block seated and speaking to a student\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/wheelock\/files\/2023\/12\/IMG_7160.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/wheelock\/files\/2023\/12\/IMG_7160-900x600.jpg 900w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/wheelock\/files\/2023\/12\/IMG_7160-1500x1000.jpg 1500w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/wheelock\/files\/2023\/12\/IMG_7160-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/wheelock\/files\/2023\/12\/IMG_7160-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/wheelock\/files\/2023\/12\/IMG_7160-1200x800.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/wheelock\/files\/2023\/12\/IMG_7160-500x333.jpg 500w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/wheelock\/files\/2023\/12\/IMG_7160-992x661.jpg 992w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/wheelock\/files\/2023\/12\/IMG_7160-1920x1280.jpg 1920w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/wheelock\/files\/2023\/12\/IMG_7160-1000x667.jpg 1000w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/wheelock\/files\/2023\/12\/IMG_7160-1984x1322.jpg 1984w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/wheelock\/files\/2023\/12\/IMG_7160-450x300.jpg 450w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/wheelock\/files\/2023\/12\/IMG_7160-600x400.jpg 600w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 2048px) 100vw, 2048px\" \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"wp-block-editorial-leadin-caption wp-prepress-component-caption\">Photos by Christina McDonnell<\/p>\n\t\t\t\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"container-words-outer\">\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"container-words-inner has-opacity-50\">\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"wp-prepress-tag\">Sport Psychology<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h1 class=\"head\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tPerformance Under Pressure\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/h1>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h4 class=\"deck\">Inspired by her own experiences as a young athlete, Carly Block studies athletes\u2019 well-being, resilience, and endurance<\/h4>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\n\t<\/div>\n\n\t\n<div class=\"wp-prepress-component-metabar news-prepress-layout-metabar\">\n\t<div class=\"wp-prepress-component-metabar-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"wp-prepress-component-metabar-date\">December 19, 2023<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"wp-prepress-component-metabar-comments\">\n\t\t\t<a href=\"#comments\" class=\"wp-prepress-component-comment-counter label has-no-comments\"><span class=\"wp-prepress-component-comment-counter-zero\"><span>0<\/span><\/span><\/a>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"wp-prepress-component-metabar-credits\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<ul data-credit-type=\"By\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/wheelock\/news\/authors\/finn-gardiner\/\">Finn Gardiner<\/a><\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/ul>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"wp-prepress-component-metabar-share js-bu-prepress-share-tools\">\n\t\t\t<span class=\"icon-twitter\"><span>Twitter<\/span><\/span>\n\t\t\t<span class=\"icon-facebook\"><span>Facebook<\/span><\/span>\n\t\t\t<span class=\"icon-action\"><\/span>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\t\n\n\n<p>How do goalies stay strong under pressure when their team\u2019s victory\u2014or defeat\u2014rests on their ability to stop the other team from scoring? Despite their importance, goalies\u2019 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\u2019 position, leading to higher levels of stress when coaches need to correct their mistakes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>A lecturer in sport psychology, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/wheelock\/profile\/carly-block\/\">Carly Block<\/a> 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.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>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.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Her specific interest in goalkeepers comes from her own experience. \u201cI was a substitute goalie once when I was a kid,\u201d she says. \u201cI cried in goal, and my soccer career ended right then.\u201d&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>But while her career as a goalie may have been fleeting, its influence on her certainly wasn\u2019t. \u201cI kept seeing my experience when I watched goalies in all these sports,\u201d she says. \u201cI 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\u2019s performance.\u201d&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Block scanned the literature for research on the psychology of goalies and often came up short. \u201cMost of it was about performance or physical tasks, or it was more statistical,\u201d she says.&nbsp; \u201cThere was limited research about goalies\u2019 own experiences in the sport and on their mental game.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3><strong>&#8220;Life is a performance<\/strong>&#8220;<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>As part of BU Wheelock\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bu-prolab.org\/\">Performance, Recovery &amp; Optimization Lab<\/a>, which focuses on how to help athletes strengthen their skills and respond to setbacks, Block studies athletes\u2019 well-being, resilience, mental flexibility, and endurance.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-editorial-photoessay news-block-editorial-photoessay wp-block-photoessay js-block-editorial-photoessay\"><div class=\"photo-row-full-f\">\n<div class=\"photo-f\"><div class=\"wp-block-photoessay-media\"><figure><img loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1500\" height=\"1000\" src=\"\/wheelock\/files\/2023\/12\/IMG_7259-1500x1000.jpg\" alt=\"Carly Block speaks with students in her class about their end of semester reflections\" class=\"wp-image-76499\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/wheelock\/files\/2023\/12\/IMG_7259-1500x1000.jpg 1500w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/wheelock\/files\/2023\/12\/IMG_7259-900x600.jpg 900w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/wheelock\/files\/2023\/12\/IMG_7259-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/wheelock\/files\/2023\/12\/IMG_7259-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/wheelock\/files\/2023\/12\/IMG_7259-1200x800.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/wheelock\/files\/2023\/12\/IMG_7259-500x333.jpg 500w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/wheelock\/files\/2023\/12\/IMG_7259-992x661.jpg 992w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/wheelock\/files\/2023\/12\/IMG_7259-1920x1280.jpg 1920w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/wheelock\/files\/2023\/12\/IMG_7259-1000x667.jpg 1000w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/wheelock\/files\/2023\/12\/IMG_7259-1984x1322.jpg 1984w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/wheelock\/files\/2023\/12\/IMG_7259-450x300.jpg 450w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/wheelock\/files\/2023\/12\/IMG_7259-600x400.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/wheelock\/files\/2023\/12\/IMG_7259.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px\" \/><\/figure><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>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.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cWhen I work one-on-one with athletes, I use evidence- and theory-based interventions so I can apply what I\u2019m researching,\u201d she says.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In March 2024, Block and her PRO Lab colleagues will cohost the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/wheelock\/news\/bu-wheelock-forum\/\">2024 BU Wheelock Forum: Thriving Individuals, Teams, and Systems<\/a>. 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.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cLife is a performance, and I\u2019m excited to have everyone learn more about what sport and performance psychology entail,\u201d she says.&nbsp;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>How do goalies stay strong under pressure when their team\u2019s victory\u2014or defeat\u2014rests on their ability to stop the other team from scoring? Despite their importance, goalies\u2019 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 [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":18489,"featured_media":76495,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"bu_prepress_billboard":"","_bu_prepress_primary_term":"Sport Psychology","_bu_prepress_primary_term_manual":""},"tags":[6455,6663],"bu-publication":[6614],"magazine-article-category":[],"magazine-topic":[],"news-article-category":[6727,6744,6661,6750],"news-topic":[6936],"bu_edition":[],"media_type":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/wheelock\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/bu-article\/76493"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/wheelock\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/bu-article"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/wheelock\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/bu-article"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/wheelock\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/18489"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/wheelock\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=76493"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/wheelock\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/bu-article\/76493\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":76501,"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/wheelock\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/bu-article\/76493\/revisions\/76501"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/wheelock\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/76495"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/wheelock\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=76493"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/wheelock\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=76493"},{"taxonomy":"bu-publication","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/wheelock\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/bu-publication?post=76493"},{"taxonomy":"magazine-article-category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/wheelock\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/magazine-article-category?post=76493"},{"taxonomy":"magazine-topic","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/wheelock\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/magazine-topic?post=76493"},{"taxonomy":"news-article-category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/wheelock\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/news-article-category?post=76493"},{"taxonomy":"news-topic","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/wheelock\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/news-topic?post=76493"},{"taxonomy":"bu_edition","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/wheelock\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/bu_edition?post=76493"},{"taxonomy":"media_type","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/wheelock\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media_type?post=76493"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}