Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42271117›Full record

ArticleSports medicine (Auckland, N.Z.)2026

Performance Under Pressure in Sport: A Position Statement from Exercise and Sports Science Australia (ESSA).

Matthew J Schweickle, Renee N Appaneal, Patricia C Jackman, Clare L Minahan, Gene M Moyle, Craig Pickering, Damien Stewart, Stewart A Vella, Christian Swann

Abstract readConsensus Statement
In one paragraph

Article in Sports medicine (Auckland, N.Z.), 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

9 authors.

Matthew J SchweickleGlobal Alliance for Mental Health and Sport, School of Psychology, Faculty of Science, Medicine and Health, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, NSW, 2500, Australia. mschweic@uow.edu.au.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-7752-8573
Renee N AppanealPrepare and Perform, Canberra, ACT, Australia.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0003-3971-8303
Patricia C JackmanSchool of Psychology, Sport Science, and Wellbeing, University of Lincoln, Lincoln, UK.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-5756-4494
Clare L MinahanGriffith Sports Science, Griffith University, Gold Coast, QLD, Australia.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-4777-4033
Gene M MoyleFaculty of Creative Industries, Education and Social Justice, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD, Australia.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0003-2133-4731
Craig PickeringAustralian Athletics, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.
Damien StewartRoom23 Psychology, Brisbane, QLD, Australia.ORCID http://orcid.org/0009-0006-1240-6659
Stewart A VellaGlobal Alliance for Mental Health and Sport, School of Psychology, Faculty of Science, Medicine and Health, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, NSW, 2500, Australia.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0003-0537-9366
Christian SwannPhysical Activity, Sport and Exercise Research Theme, Faculty of Health, Southern Cross University, Coffs Harbour, NSW, Australia.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0003-1502-3179

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Supporting performance under pressure is important to many roles in the sporting sector, including Exercise and Sports Science Australia (ESSA) Accredited Sport Scientists and Accredited High Performance Managers. This position statement on behalf of ESSA aims to support practitioners whose responsibilities include facilitating athletes' performance under pressure. To achieve this aim, we synthesised relevant systematic reviews, and theoretical and empirical publications, regarding supporting performance under pressure in sport. Specifically, we focused on translating the scientific literature regarding the different sources of pressure athletes may experience, how athletes may respond to this pressure, the different strategies that may be used to support performance under pressure and considerations for how performance under pressure may be evaluated. This position statement highlights that pressure can have both facilitative and debilitative effects on athlete performance. Training environments offering implicit learning opportunities and effective utilisation of pressure training can prepare athletes for performing well under pressure. A range of evidence-based psychological strategies can be utilised when performing under pressure, including: (1) pre-performance routines, (2) implicit attentional strategies, (3) psychological skills training and (4) mindfulness-based approaches. Suggestions are provided for how to appropriately select and implement different strategies depending on sport type or context. Drawing on a systems-led approach, performance teams can collectively work together to support athlete performance under pressure in an integrated manner. This position statement concludes with eight overarching recommendations to support performance under pressure. These recommendations are contextually specific to key stakeholder groups, such as the organisation, performance team members and sports researchers.

Indexed as

Athletic PerformanceSportsAthletesAttentionAustraliaHumansMindfulnessPhysical Conditioning, Human

Identifiers

PMID42271117
PMCPMC13457279

What OpenQuestion holds

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LicenceCC BY
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Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.