1.
Attacking
Theoretical cause and corrective measure
• Weakness: Kicking from a dead ball in a match
• Theoretical cause: Arousal
• Corrective Measure: Relaxation and biofeedback
Theoretical Cause
Arousal is the energised state of readiness of the individual to perform a task, motivating him or her to direct his or her behaviour in a particular manner.
• During a match the pressures of the crowd and outcome of the result of my dead ball kick are more than likely contributors to a fall in my dead ball kicking performance.
• When preparing to take a dead ball kick I have some symptoms of cognitive state arousal, for example negative thoughts and self-doubt due too negative past experiences with dead ball kicks.

• One theory that I could use to explain my poor dead kicks is the Drive theory. The drive theory suggests there is a linear relationship between arousal and performance. Using the drive theory as an explanation a lack of arousal could be leading to a low performance level and consequently poor dead ball kicks. More recently psychologists proposed that my dominant habit or response would be more evident as my arousal level increased. However as I am in the autonomous stage of learning with my dead ball kicks my dominant habit is too make mistakes in the technique of a dead ball kick e.g. not having my heel of the kicking foot extended behind my body and isn’t parallel to my gluteal. Have a straight non-kicking leg this means I am not gaining maximum distance when kicking because I’m off balance and can’t get a full momentum swing on the ball with my kicking leg. Consequently this regularly leading to a poor dead ball kick.

• Another theory that I could use is the Inverted-U-theory. This theory suggests that as arousal levels increase so does the level of performance but it only goes up to an optimum point. Therefore with this theory if my arousal levels are at moderate levels my performance level should be at its optimum point and my dead ball kicks should be at a high level. To a certain extent this theory could relate to my dead ball kicks as I find at the start of matches my dead ball kicks are regularly of a high standard and at the start of matches I am usually calm and composed therefore medium arousal levels. However if the match I am playing in is a match of high importance E.G. FA youth cup round 1 then I find cognitive state arousal taking place which could mean I am trying too hard with my arousal levels too high therefore a low performance level according to the inverted-u-theory.

• Another theory is the catastrophe theory. This theory suggests that if I become over aroused then a much faster and more dramatic reduction in my performance will take place therefore a large drop in my dead ball kicking performance. This theory suggests that I will try to regain control by decreasing my arousal levels. My performance level will not immediately return to its original level and will only gradually start to rise as my arousal and anxiety levels return to much lower levels. However it is also possible for my performance to deteriorate further and my dead ball kicking performance could drop dramatically.

Corrective measure:
One corrective measure to combat my cognitive anxiety when taking a dead ball kick is relaxation. Relaxation involves me actively causing my muscles involved in taking a dead ball kick (Quadriceps and abdominals) to become less tensed or rigid. This could be achieved by utilising thoughts to induce a calmer state when I’m taking a dead ball kick or somatic by controlling the muscle tension. This should then relax me cognitively and somatically which could lead to my arousal levels dropping if they are too high and therefore completing a higher performance in terms of my dead ball kicking.
Another corrective measure is biofeedback which involves the measurement of the body’s physiological reposes to stress using objective techniques. I will be made aware of the physiological responses that are occurring and I will focus my thoughts on taking the dead ball kick to calm myself. One way this can be measured is the Galvanic skin response, which measures the skins electrical conductivity when sweating. If I’m tense when taking a dead ball kick, more sweat is produced to remove the heat generated by my muscles. Another way is when skin temperature is measured via thermometers attached to the skin; readings are lower during times of stress e.g. when I’m taking a goal kick.