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The aim of the present study was to compare the effectiveness of a learned preperformance routine (PPR) with an intuitively developed one before a simulation race on advanced swimmers’ speed and motor efficiency, as well as self-efficacy and emotional regulation. In total, 46 National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I swimmers were stratified to either the control (intuitively developed PPR) or the PPR condition, which included four instructional sessions aimed at developing a PPR. A simulated competitive race was organized before and after the intervention. For each simulation, speed and motor efficiency were measured during the race, and self-efficacy and emotions, after the completion of the race. Nonsignificant effects were revealed for speed, motor efficiency, and self-efficacy following the intervention. However, performing a learned PPR prior to racing significantly influenced the swimmers’ emotional state. These results provide some support for the effect of a PPR on emotional regulation prior to a swimming race.
Richard is with the Center for Circus Arts Research, Innovation and Knowledge Transfer, Montreal National Circus School, Montreal, QC, Canada. Mason is with the Dept. of Occupational Therapy, and Alvarez-Alvarado, the Dept. of Clinical and Health Psychology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA. Perry is with the Academic College of Tel Aviv-Yafo, Tel Aviv-Yafo, Israel. Lussier is with the National Institute of Sport, Montreal, QC, Canada. Tenenbaum is with the Baruch Ivcher School of Psychology, The Interdisciplinary Center, Herzliya, Israel.