Citation

Smith AM, Sim FH, Smith HC, Stuart MJ, Laskowski ER. Mayo Clin. Proc. 1998; 73(1): 17-27.

Affiliation

Sports Medicine Center, Mayo Clinic Rochester, Minnesota 55905, USA. smith.aynsley@mayo.edu

Copyright

(Copyright © 1998, Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

9443674

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To determine the relationship between psychologic, situational, and physiologic variables and on-ice performance of youth hockey goalkeepers. DESIGN: This study was structured to identify relationships and predictors of goalie performance. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Because athletes playing solo positions in team sports have not been analyzed in depth in terms of precompetition anxiety and because goalkeeper performance is critical to game outcome, we undertook a study of 43 goalies at a hockey camp. These goalies completed psychometric inventories to assess trait and state anxiety, confidence, life stress, and social support. Holter monitors measured heart rate while the goalies rotated through on-ice stations. Goalies were videotaped at the puck-shooting machine station, and performance (percent saves) was calculated. RESULTS: Trait (somatic) anxiety and positive mood state (ability to share) had different but significant relationships with on-ice performance. Heart rates ranged from 88 to 208 beats/min at the on-ice stations. Mean heart rate for older goalies (14 to 18 years of age) was 164 beats/min at the puck-shooting machine and 176 beats/min at other stations such as the slap-shot station. CONCLUSION: Older goalies performed well at a high level of arousal. Better performing goalies were more experienced, had faster heart rates "in the net," and had lower scores on all measures of anxiety.

Language: en