How do emotional tones, involvement in the situation, perception and technical adaptations interplay in elite athletes’ performance optimization? A case study in Formula Kite

Abstract

It is widely accepted in sports psychology that emotions and performance are interrelated. However, the interplay between athletes’ emotions and the associated involvements in the situation, perceptions and technical adaptations has remained largely unexplored in ecological sport settings. Therefore, the purpose of the present study is to use an activity-centered approach to apprehend these links in an ecological setting. We used the theoretical and methodological framework of the course of experience to analyze the activity of two elite Formula Kite riders during speed tests. Our results highlight that during the speed tests, the riders’ pleasant emotional tones were associated with technical adaptations mostly related to global involvements in the situation and global sources of perturbation, while unpleasant emotional tones were associated with more specific involvements in the situation and local sources of perturbation. Furthermore, pleasant and unpleasant emotional tones were associated with different technical adaptations. Altogether, the results of the study emphasize the interest of apprehending the athlete’s performance optimization through a holistic viewpoint taking into consideration both the athletes’ emotions and their modes of technical adaptation to dynamic sport situations “in the doing”.