Tag: performance psychology

Even the most skilled athletes can falter under pressure, not because they lack skill, but because their own thoughts become their worst enemy. Ironically, trying not to make a mess makes mistake more likely—a phenomenon known as an ironic error. Yet despite its real-world consequences, little research examines whether elite performers—those who train relentlessly for high-stakes moments—succumb to these mental traps. The bottom line? Under pressure, ditch the “don’ts.” Train the brain to focus on what to do, not what to avoid—because where attention goes, performance follows.

Join us in Reykjavík, Iceland, on May 21-22, 2025, for the second edition of the Nordic Football Research Conference, hosted by Reykjavík University and the Football Association of Iceland. This prestigious event, held in collaboration with the football associations of Finland, Denmark, Sweden, the Faroe Islands and Norway. This version is dedicated to research related to helping associations, clubs, and coaches achieve results on the field. The focus is research and applied presentations on coaching, performance, analytics, and sport psychology.

The aim of this conference is to bring scientists and scholars together for an exchange on the current state of research and development. The program will include presentations from renowned keynote speakers and leading experts, as well as oral and poster presentations from world-class researchers touching on cutting edge subjects and newest technologies from the field of Performance Analysis.

Because sports are a meaningful form of social activity that affects so many structures including politics, the economy, and, perhaps, the values of citizens, they raise a wide range of issues, some of which are objective or empirical in character. Thus, the aim of this Research Topic is to assemble both applied or theoretical research from experts within the field of sport psychology, sociology, performance and exercise or any correlated field.

The 2015 Center for Performance Psychology Conference brings together diverse constituencies in the field of performance psychology and peak performance to share advancements and...