The Sports
Psychology Blog
Today's Sports Psychology blog asks if overcelebration can impact on the outcome of a sporting contest.
The City Ground Was Their Wembley...Intoxicated On Euphoria
I'm at Wembley for the Division One Play Off Final - Blackpool v. Yeovil. A close game is expected. Yeovil should be surging with belief after their shock win over Nottingham Forest in the semi-final. Yet they are feeble. In footballing parlance they don't turn up. So where did all they exuberance, energy and belief go?
We only have to look at their celebrations after beating Forest to find the answer. Marcus Stewart has his shirt off and is screaming at the Yeovil fans. The players seem intoxicated on euphoria. They have peaked. This is it. A once in a lifetime comeback. They have won a game they had no right to win.
Beat Forest, applaud the fans and walk off, knowing this is not it. This is just the semis. But no. The intoxication is too much. They cannot help themselves. This is their Wembley.
Come finals day they have nothing left in the tank. It is more than their collective belief system can handle.
You can read more on this subject in my recent 442 column
Posted by Martin Perry: Confidence Coach & Sports Psychology - 29th May 2007
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Your comments
Max White 2007-06-01 1:58 am
There have been lots of examples of this in sport. The last rugby World Cup when Australia clearly overcelebrated after beating New Zealand in the semi-final is a good example. Not forgetting England's way over the top Ashes celebration.