This case study focused on pressure, stereotype threat, choking, and the coping experiences of the New Zealand All Blacks rugby team during the period from 2004-2011 leading into their success at the 2011 Rugby World Cup (RWC). Employing a narrative approach this case study examined public expectation, pressure, and coach-led coping strategies designed to “avoid the choke” by the All Blacks team. An in-depth interview was completed with one of the All Blacks’ coaches and analyzed via collaborative thematic analysis (Riessman, 2008). In addition multiple secondary data sources (e.g., coach & player autobiographies; media interviews) were analyzed via holistic-content analysis (Lieblich et al., 1998). Collectively these analyses revealed five key themes: public expectation and pressure, learning from 2007 RWC, coping with RWC pressure, decision-making under pressure, and avoiding the choke. Practical recommendations are offered for team sport coaches with respect to coping with pressure and avoiding choking.
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Public Expectation, Pressure, and Avoiding the Choke: A Case Study from Elite Sport
Ken Hodge and Wayne Smith
Exploring the Athletic Identity, Anxiety, and Mental Health of Division II Collegiate Athletes in the COVID-19 Era
Justin A. Hebert and Aubrey Newland
reversal theory perspective . Psychology of Sport & Exercise, 63, Article 102271 . https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psychsport.2022.102271 Yopyk , D.J.A. , & Prentice , D.A. ( 2005 ). Am I an athlete or a student? Identity salience and stereotype threat in student-athletes . Basic and Applied Social
