The Effectiveness of Pre-Performance Routines on Elite Swimmers` Performance, Self-Efficacy, Anxiety and Emotions

Background: A Pre-Performance Routine (PPR) is a repeatable series of motor and mental activities performed prior to undertaking a task (Lidor & Singer, 2003). Considering the structure of a swimming competition, integrating a PPR in the minutes preceding the event could be a relevant procedure for swimmers to enhance their performance. ֲ

Aim: The aim of the present study was to test the effectiveness of performing a PPR immediately before swimming a 100-meter simulation race on elite swimmers` speed, motor efficiency, self-efficacy, state anxiety, and emotions.

Method: Forty-six NCAA Division I swimmers (27 males, 19 females) were stratified to either the experimental or control conditions based on their previous use of a PPR. The intervention included 4 instructional sessions aimed to establish individual motor and mental pre-performance routine.

Results: A mixed RM-ANOVA was performed to test for differences between the baseline and final simulation in speed, biomechanical performance indicators, self-efficacy, and emotions for the two conditions. Following the first competitive simulation, self-efficacy scores for the PPR condition were lower than the control condition, whereas the opposite was revealed after the intervention and the second race simulation. Additionally, state anxiety decreased from first to second simulated competition in swimmers in both conditions. Swimmers exposed to the PPR intervention reported an increase in positive emotions and a decrease in negative emotions, however most of the findings were non-significant and similarly, no changes in biomechanical indices were noted.

Discussion and Conclusions: A PPR may promote the athlete`s swimming self-efficacy and positive emotion, but longer exposure to it may result in performance enhancement.