Generally, sport psychologists advise athletes to utilize music in order to prepare for competition (Karageorghis & Terry 1997: 57). Research suggests that music will influence arousal if it promotes thoughts that encourage physical activity or relaxation (Gfeller 1988: 31). In other words, the association between certain types of music and physical activity may act as a stimulus. If athletes need to increase their arousal level before a game they may listen to music that encourages them to go out and compete at an intense level. If athletes need to lower their arousal level before a game they may listen to a song that would allow them to relax and calm down.
The interviews of Division I athletes were conducted, transcribed, and placed into …show more content…
If it’s fast music I’m just excited to move around and do something, like play or hurt people in a game – (Participant 2).
In synopsis, the participants in this investigation used music to help them achieve an increase in their arousal level before a game or competition, get their body moving and the blood flowing, as well as to become energized and more aggressive in certain instances.
Slow tempo music. This subtheme emerged from many athletes’ descriptions on the importance of listening to music the morning of a game and after a game or competition. Some of the participants added that listening to slow music hours before game time helped them to think about what they had to do during the game:
There’s a couple of country songs that take my mind off everything else, it’s a lot easier to sit there and think about what you need to do – (Participant 3).
Hours before the game I’ll listen to music to calm me down, like R&B, so I don’t get too pumped early on, because we are usually sitting there watching other football games, and sometimes that will get you riled up. And so it’s a good buildup to start off slow and then steadily pick it up as you go on – (Participant
The interviews of Division I athletes were conducted, transcribed, and placed into …show more content…
If it’s fast music I’m just excited to move around and do something, like play or hurt people in a game – (Participant 2).
In synopsis, the participants in this investigation used music to help them achieve an increase in their arousal level before a game or competition, get their body moving and the blood flowing, as well as to become energized and more aggressive in certain instances.
Slow tempo music. This subtheme emerged from many athletes’ descriptions on the importance of listening to music the morning of a game and after a game or competition. Some of the participants added that listening to slow music hours before game time helped them to think about what they had to do during the game:
There’s a couple of country songs that take my mind off everything else, it’s a lot easier to sit there and think about what you need to do – (Participant 3).
Hours before the game I’ll listen to music to calm me down, like R&B, so I don’t get too pumped early on, because we are usually sitting there watching other football games, and sometimes that will get you riled up. And so it’s a good buildup to start off slow and then steadily pick it up as you go on – (Participant