ISSN: 1546-962X
Published Online: 18 February 2004
Page Count: 17

Psychophysiologic Factors and Performance in Ice Hockey Goalies During Competition

Smith, AM
Sport Psychology Counselor, Research Director, Mayo Clinic Sports Medicine Center; Assistant Professor, Mayo Clinic, Rochester,MN

Finnie, SB
Dan Abraham Healthy Living Center, Mayo Clinic, Rochester,MN

Stuart, MJ
Co-Director, Mayo Clinic Sports Medicine Center, Professor, Mayo Clinic, Rochester,MN

Meis, J
Mayo Clinic Sports Medicine Center, Rochester,MN

Beaver, KM
Mayo Clinic Sports Medicine Center, Rochester,MN

Laskowski, ER
Co-Director, Mayo Clinic Sports Medicine Center; Associate Professor, Mayo Clinic, Rochester,MN

Young, WF
Professor of Medicine, Mayo Medical School, Mayo Clinic, Rochester,MN

(Received 29 August 2002; accepted 11 August 2003)

Abstract

Studying goalies, who play a key position in hockey requires examining psychophysiologic variables and their relationship to performance during games when the outcome is important [15]. This investigation tested all three aspects of emotion (subjective, physiologic changes, and performance). Nine male goalies completed questionnaires and provided salivary cortisol before, during, and after each game. Heart rate (ECG signal) was integrated with the goalie's performance video. Goalies rated on Likert Scales; headaches, stomach aches, insomnia, nervousness, and awareness of heart pounding. Data from 16 games were obtained. Of nine, two goalies provided data on three games each; one goalie was classified as a responder and the other a non-responder, based on salivary cortisol levels (SCL). The responder's SCL increased 572 % between baseline and post-period assessments, whereas SCL in the non-responder increased 50 % above baseline. The responder's SCL increased eight times baseline when he faced 16 shots in a period. The responder goalie's game heart rates (HRs) were 160, 152, and 167 beats per minute (bpm) and the non-responder's HRs were 147, 132, and 142 bpm for three games. Game performance was similar for both goalies.

Keywords:
goalies, ice hockey, psychophysiologic response, games, performance

Paper ID: JAI11305
DOI: 10.1520/JAI11305
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