A loss of concentration occurs when an athlete's attention shifts from task-relevant cues to task-irrelevant cues. It is commonly caused by external stimuli, internal thoughts, inappropriate arousal, fatigue, or an attentional focus that does not match the task.
How Distraction Disrupts Performance
Attentional control is the ability to maintain and shift attention appropriately. Because attentional capacity is limited, irrelevant information reduces the attention available for the ball, opponents, positioning, or tactical instructions.
For example, a footballer taking a penalty should focus on the ball, technique, and goalkeeper. Crowd noise or worry about missing diverts attention and may impair execution.
| Cause of distraction | How it affects concentration | Sporting example |
|---|---|---|
| External stimuli | Irrelevant sights or sounds capture attention | A sprinter reacts to crowd movement |
| Anxiety and worry | Attention shifts toward failure or consequences | A gymnast worries about the score |
| Excessive arousal | Attention narrows and peripheral cues are missed | A midfielder misses an unmarked teammate |
| Low arousal or boredom | Attention becomes too broad or is not maintained | A defender loses focus during inactivity |
| Fatigue | Alertness and information processing decline | A tired player misses a late tactical cue |
| Previous errors | Attention remains on an earlier mistake | A tennis player dwells on a double fault |
| Opponent tactics | Verbal or behavioural interference redirects attention | An opponent provokes a reaction |
A common misconception is that concentration means focusing intensely on one thing. Effective concentration requires the appropriate width of attention, broad or narrow, and direction, internal or external, before shifting focus as the task changes.
Exam Technique
For IB SEHS C.2.2, identify the distraction, explain how it redirects attention from relevant cues, and apply it to a sporting example. Do not merely list causes: connect each one to attentional control and its effect on performance.
