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The Effects of Aggression on Sports Performance



How Does Aggression Affect Sports Performance?

We are exposed to acts of hostility daily whether we watch or participate in sports. Whether it's a young soccer player who chooses to make a savage tackle on a defender whose performance has been aggravating him the entire game or seeing old footage of the famous Lawrence Taylor sacking another Quarterback, there's something for everyone. Aggression is a common occurrence in sports.

This article aims to provide insight into the effects of aggression on sporting performance through sports psychology and address the impact of an audience on performance regarding whether a home court, field, or stadium can make a significant difference to a team or individual team performance.

Aggression's Impact on Performance

While reasonable force is permitted in many sports, it is against the game's rules in others. Many sports demand a degree of physicality to succeed, and this assertiveness is essential. The hustle and bustle amongst players will always be a vital aspect of the sport's character, whether it's ice hockey or soccer.

Because dissatisfaction on the field (or off) frequently leads to violent violence, this can raise levels of physical arousal, which can either boost performance in some sports or push them out of their arousal zone of optimum functioning.

Is the video below an example of Nottingham Forest icon Stuart Pearce's aggressive play?

Situational Aspects Affecting Sporting Aggression

In terms of sport-specific aggressive behavior a large proportion of the research carried out has been related to situation specific factors. (Cox 1998)

1.   1- Environmental temperature

1.   2- Perception of a victim's intent

1.   3- Fear of retaliation

1.   4- Structure of the game

Cycling On a Hot Day

The Influence of Temperature in the Environment on Aggression

When the temperature rises dramatically, and the weather becomes unbearable, we might all feel frustrated. Taking a cooling drink lessened the influence of high ambient temperatures on aggressiveness levels, according to Baron and Bell (1976).

The influence of ambient temperature on performance levels is curvilinear in laboratory trials, with performance levels increasing to an optimal point before an apparent fall in performance, as illustrated below.

Perception of a Victim's Intent in Sport

As a general rule, if an athlete believes their opponent intends to damage or injure them, they are more likely to respond aggressively against them. If a rugby player believes that their opponent's rough and overly physical play is designed to injure them, their anger level may impact their reaction.

The Fear of Retaliation is a fear that many people have. Aggression and Counter-Aggression are two concepts that are often used interchangeably.

It's usually best not to target an opponent player's most significant, fiercest, hardest-hitting defender known as "The Enforcer" or anything of a similar authoritative nature if you're planning to take out some aggression.

Out of both fear and respect, the dread of reprisal can prevent aggressiveness directed at an opponent. Players are less inclined to engage in unsportsmanlike behavior if they are likely to receive the same. Aggression might result in retaliation. Some people thrive on a challenge, while others prefer to shun it entirely.

Fear of Retaliation in Soccer


Game Structure in Sports

Many game-related characteristics have been identified that emphasize aggressiveness in sports game structure.

As the score differential between the two sides widens, frustration builds, which might escalate to aggressiveness. When scores are tied, the amount of hostility displayed by contending teams is usually limited. The regulations governing aggressive play in sports (such as the red card in soccer for reckless behavior) imply that players and coaches will do everything possible to limit irritation and potentially hostile behavior.

·         Home or Away

Is having a home-court advantage genuinely beneficial? When playing away from home, professional soccer teams are more aggressive. However, there is minimal variation in hostility between home and away teams in ice hockey. Various elements influence home-court advantage in sports, which is discussed lower down the page.

·         League position

In general, the worse a team's league ranking, the higher the amount of hostility displayed. Consider the ferocity Derby County fought to attain the lowest ever points total in a Premiership Football season in 2007/2008.

·         Periods of sporting play

It has been demonstrated that aggressive behavior increases during a game in multiple-period play sports. While the first period has the lowest number of events, the second period has the highest number of incidents.

Sports Aggression Reduction Techniques

It is within the authority of coaches, parents, management, and athletes to restrain aggressiveness. Unfortunately, not all forms of violence are prohibited. In some situations, coaches have been known to cheer violent rule-breaking in the hopes of increasing ticket sales and instilling terror in other teams visiting. Unfortunately, such high-level behavior tends to trickle down to lower levels and youth development. A culture of violence is developed when an athletic figure misbehaves.

Athlete Aggression Control and Reduction


Coaches, managers, parents, and players must think about the following excellent practices:

-         The athlete should be taught, non-aggressive behavior models.

-         Coaches, parents, managers, and all athletes should face severe consequences if they engage in hostile behavior.

-         Positive reinforcements of non-aggressive behaviors should be administered to encourage future behaviors.

-         Workshops on aggressiveness control should encourage referees and coaches to attend to adopt long-term best practices.

Managing and Reducing Spectator Hostility

There are several options for reducing boisterous and hostile crowd behavior at sporting events that might be considered.

-         Sporting activities should be marketed as family events.

-         The media should not glamorize hostility in sports.

-         The media should be held accountable if there is hatred and hostility amongst opposing supporters and teams.

-         Spectator aggression must incorporate suitable punishments which reflect the magnitude of the crime.

-         The selling of alcoholic beverages during gatherings should be restricted.

Home Court Advantage in Sports

Is it true that playing sports at home gives you an advantage?

The chart shows home-court victory percentages across major US athletic leagues, with MLB numbers dating back to 1903 and NFL figures dating back to 1966, requiring extra year-by-year study to determine strength.

The most logical explanation for the home-court advantage in sports has to be the presence of a cheering crowd. Could a raucous crowd excite the home team? Or do you want to limit the away team's abilities?