Write your search in the input below and press enter.
Esc to close.

The Sports Doc Chalk Talk with Dr. Chris Stankovich

Peak Performance:
Not Just for Sports, for Life

  • Products
    • Toolkits
    • Audio
    • Videos
    • Books
    • Apps
  • Services
  • Chalk Talk
    • Recent
    • Athletes
    • Coaching
    • Sports Parenting
    • Sports Administrators
    • Life
    • Administrators
  • About Dr. Stankovich
  • Testimonials
  • Contact
  • Products
    • Toolkits
    • Audio
    • Books
    • Videos
    • Apps
  • Services
  • Chalk Talk
  • About Dr. Stankovich
  • Testimonials
  • Contact

Hello. Sign In

My Account
  • Login
  • Register
0
The Sports Doc Chalk Talk
Subscribe
The Sports Doc Chalk Talk with Dr. Chris Stankovich
  • Recent
  • Athletes
  • Coaching
  • Sports Parenting
  • Life
  • Administrators
Home / Blog / Examining the Psychology Behind Fair & Healthy Competition

Examining the Psychology Behind Fair & Healthy Competition

By: Dr. Chris Stankovich | @DrStankovich | Nov 02, 2022

No Comments

Fair and healthy competition occurs when individuals/teams are evenly matched with each side having a roughly equal chance of winning.  When we match competitors on variables like intelligence, height/weight, athleticism, or musical ability, it inspires each competitor to give his or her best knowing that the game is fair and that there is a real chance of winning.  In these examples competitors experience greater levels of motivation, focus, and resiliency — all variables commonly witnessed in peak human performance moments.

But what happens when we “stack the deck” in competitive situations?

How does the spirit of competition change when one individual/team is at such a distinct disadvantage that the chances to win are close to zero?   Setting aside the rare examples in life where a massively disadvantaged underdog beats a heavy favorite, what happens in every day competitions between individuals or teams when there is almost no chance of winning?  For example, if you pitted college students from an Ivy League school against a random group of first graders in a trivia competition, it’s difficult to see how the elementary school kids could put up much of a fight against some of our finest academics.  Similarly, you would not expect a high school football team to pose much threat against an NFL team for obvious reasons.

When competitors are mismatched to the point where there is no challenge for the favorite, and no hope for the underdog, a number of psychological concerns arise.  Regardless whether you are on the team that is the heavy favorite or massive underdog, participants run the risk of the following:

  • Loss of motivation.  Regardless of whether you are on the heavily favored team or the huge underdog, it is not uncommon to see loss of motivation from both sides when games are heavily uneven.  Why try if the game is an easy win, but why try if there is almost no chance to win, either?
  • Poor focus.  When games are not competitive it is easy to lose focus, and one of the easiest ways to get injured in sports is to stop paying attention to the game.
  • Less resiliency.  Again, if you are the favored team why worry about being resilient when you know you can come back and win at anytime, and if you are the underdog resiliency often takes a hit when it becomes apparent that resiliency may not make up for massive differences in abilities.
  • Unnecessary frustration that can lead to unintended behavioral consequences.  When heavy underdogs feel as though they are being humiliated, it increases the chances for retaliation by means of unsportsmanlike behavior.

Final thoughts

When sport opponents are similar in ability the result is a healthy competitive spirit enjoyed by all.  This is especially true in youth and interscholastic sports, prompting a greater awareness of the dangers of “stacking” a youth sport team and/or scheduling opponents who are either far below your ability, or so much better that your kids think it’s a waste of time to even try because they don’t have a chance.  Instead, look for ways to keep kids interested, motivated, and focused for success by challenging them — but not making things too easy or next to impossible.

drstankovich.com

 

 

athletes, fair, integrity, respect, rules, sportsmanship

  • Author
  • Comments
  • Details
Get to Know the Author

Dr. Chris Stankovich

Dr. Stankovich has written/co-written five books, including Positive Transitions for Student Athletes, The ParentsPlaybook, Mind of Steel.

Latest Blog Posts

  • March 20, 2023 Morning Sports Practice Before School is Becoming the Norm, but is this Healthy for Kids?
  • March 14, 2023 Understanding Intelligence: Putting Knowledge into ACTION!
  • March 13, 2023 3 Important Tips for Today’s Multi-Sport, Youth Sport Athlete
  • February 26, 2023 The Most Important Sports “Ability” Might Surprise You
  • February 22, 2023 The Importance of Efficiency Applied to Success & Productivity

PREVIOUS POST

Learn How Sport Retirement Can be Understood by Examining Models of Grief

NEXT POST

ADHD and the Potential Dangers of Calling Life Challenges “Mental Illness”

Category

Athletes , Coaching , Emotional Intelligence , Leadership and Role Modeling , mental health , Performance Enhancement , psychology , Sport Philosophy , Sport Psychology , Sport Sociology , Uncategorized , Youth Sports

Tags

athletes, fair, integrity, respect, rules, sportsmanship

  • Recent Posts
  • Most Read
  • Morning Sports Practice Before School is Becoming the Norm, but is this Healthy for Kids?
  • Understanding Intelligence: Putting Knowledge into ACTION!
  • 3 Important Tips for Today's Multi-Sport, Youth Sport Athlete
  • The Most Important Sports "Ability" Might Surprise You
  • The Importance of Efficiency Applied to Success & Productivity
  • The Psychology Behind Breaking Bad Habits
  • What has Happened to Free Play and Recreational Sports for Kids?
  • The Importance of Efficiency Applied to Success & Productivity
  • The Most Important Sports "Ability" Might Surprise You
  • Accident Prone & Forgetful? Poor Stress Coping May be the Reason
  • The Sports Doc on TV

    Catch Dr. Stankovich’s tv, radio, and print interviews and columns here!

    Dr. Chris Stankovich Watch Videos
  • Sport Performance Assessment

    Dr. Chris Stankovich Quickly and accurately test your level of mental toughness in just a few minutes using the Sport Performance Assessment.

    (SPA), an easy-to-use sport psychology system specially designed to help you REACH YOUR FULL ATHLETIC POTENTIAL.

    learn more
  • SportsSuccess360

    Life strategies for performance and character development for coaches, parents, and student athletes competing in youth and interscholastic sports.

    Life Strategies learn more
  • Contact Dr. Stankovich

    1395 Grandview Avenue Suite 6, Columbus OH 43212

    (614) 561-4482
    Media & General Inquiries
    information@drstankovich.com
    Sales & Product Support
    sales@drstankovich.com
  • About Dr. Stankovich

    • Media
    • Blog
    • Testimonials
  • Products

    • Toolkits
    • Videos
    • Books
    • Audio
    • iPhone Apps
  • Services

    • Athlete Performance Training
    • Parent Community Forum
    • Coach Education & Development
    • Athletic Crisis Response and Intervention
    • Drug & Alcohol Assessment
    • Life Success Programs
    • Counseling & Consulting Services
  • Blog
  • YouTube
  • twitter
  • facebook

All rights reserved © 2023 Advanced Human Performance Systems™

↓ ↓