Mental Fatigue and Elite Sport
When it comes to success in sport, one of the most enduring questions is how is it that certain athletes can consistently produce the goods when it matters most, while others just never seem to reach their potential. In terms of their physical attributes, there is often very little separating a group of elite athletes – so what is the significant factor that allows one to come out on top? Quite often it comes down to psychology. For example, how an athlete deals with the pressure of the big day or how they respond to the challenge of facing defeat or staying mentally strong to push on from a winning position.
Another impairment to achieving success on the sporting field is mental fatigue and this lack of sharpness can often lead to decisive mistakes at crucial times. Therefore, like all challenges faced by an athlete, having the ability to cope with mental fatigue can have a significant impact on their performance.
What is Mental Fatigue?
A recent research study defines mental fatigue as the following:-
Mental fatigue is a psychobiological state caused by prolonged periods of demanding cognitive activity shown to negatively influence physical performance
Given the lack of clarity in both the definition of mental fatigue and how coaches and athletes should assess it, the study aimed to investigate athlete and staff understandings of mental fatigue in sport. Nine focus group discussions were conducted involving 17 athletes (with at least 2 years experience in an elite sporting environment) and 15 staff (with at least 5 years of experience in an elite sporting environment). The results showed that athletes and staff believe mental fatigue negatively affects sporting performance.
There was a common consensus of the difficulties and challenges in identifying mental fatigue, especially in relation to differentiating between mental and physical fatigue. These difficulties can limit the monitoring and management of mental fatigue. The following perceived associations to mental fatigue were identified during the research:-
- disengagement
- decreased motivation and enthusiasm
- increased displays of emotion
- tendency to withdraw
- changes in concentration
- decreased discipline
- decreased attention to detail
- feelings of an ‘active’ or ‘full’ brain
The study outlined some of the perceived causes of mental fatigue which included:-
- study and work commitments
- repetitive tasks
- over-analysis / over-thinking about their sport
- environmental instability
- the lengthy duration of activities
- information overload
- media and sponsorship engagements
- lack of staff cohesion with a sporting organization
- level of experience
- personality
The impact of mental fatigue
Mental fatigue is something that affects people in all walks of life and is a result of continued mental effort or strain that leads to a decline in cognitive performance. It can result in poor concentration levels, while tasks can appear to be much more complicated and this ultimately leads to mistakes. The idea that it is something that can affect athletic performance has been discussed for many years and a study in PLOS ONE conducted at the University of Canberra looked at that very question.
The report is summarized by Alex Hutchinson in Elite Athletes Are Better at Resisting Mental Fatigue. The authors analyzed 11 elite cyclists and 9 recreational cyclists with both groups undertaking two 20-minute time trials, with one being preceded by a cognitive test that induced mental fatigue and another by a control test involving staring at a blank screen for ten minutes. The results of the tests highlighted two interesting facts.
- (i) One illustrates that the professional athletes recorded a much superior score in the cognitive test which according to Hutchinson suggests that the pros had significantly greater “inhibitory control”, a trait that seems closely linked to endurance performance.
- (ii) The second result illustrated that while the professionals recorded almost identical times in the time trial, the recreational riders were 4.4% slower after the cognitive test, suggesting that the elite athletes were better able to resist the effects of mental fatigue.
An interesting finding was that an athletes’ ability to resist mental fatigue helps set them apart from the rest. The study suggests that being born with this trait is a factor in an individual’s development into an elite athlete, while also adding that training at elite level helps an athlete develop their ability to resist mental fatigue.
Resisting mental fatigue
This brings us to the idea of willpower as the research suggests that people with mental fatigue perceive exercise to be more difficult. Those who can resist the effects appear to have the greater level of willpower and that is what sees them succeed, particularly at endurance sports. The PLOS ONE study raises the possibility that athletes are better able to resist the effects of mental fatigue because they were born with that ability. A second possibility is that the athletes’ training has enabled their minds to adapt to a situation where they are better able to deal with mental fatigue. It is quite likely that a combination of factors allows an elite athlete to cope with mental fatigue. Educating athletes and coaches on how to avoid mental fatigue has the potential to help many athletes. Monitoring how your athletes feel i.e. their rate of perceived exertion and daily well-being can often alert coaches that they are more fatigued than usual. To help reduce risks of athletes developing mental fatigue coaches can:-
- avoid monotony in training
- maintain motivation and enthusiasm
- reduce mentally fatiguing tasks before a game
- keep cognitively demanding sessions short and effective
- prioritize rest and recovery
- monitor athletes to identify potential issues
- include training to help athletes cope with mental fatigue triggers
The mental skills that are common among successful athletes include:-
- strong focus and concentration
- positive attitude
- use of goal setting
- manage stress and anxiety
- strong self motivation skills
- strong communication skills
- uses positive mental imagery
- self confident
- strong commitment
As the studies illustrate that mental fatigue can have an adverse impact on performance, the challenge is for coaches and athletes to be aware of possible causes and to be able to deal with them before competition to ensure the athlete has the best possible chance of success.
What is Metrifit?
Through our innovative app and intelligent analytics, we are bringing athlete well-being to the forefront of training and performance. Metrifit promotes authentic conversations and learning regarding sleep, stress, nutrition, lifestyle, performance and other key factors that can prove immeasurable to both coaches and athletes. Having ‘data’ to back up your instincts or help you to recognize patterns and triggers is invaluable. Educating and empowering athletes to improve their lifestyle can pay huge dividends on the playing field. Metrifit’s new Lifestyle Profiling is akin to a ‘health check’ for your team. It provides invaluable insight into the well-being of your team with clear visuals that help you make informed decisions to prepare your athletes for optimal performance.
To find out more about our Metrifit Ready to Perform product or our new lifestyle profiling contact us at or click on ‘Request Demo’ below.
Lee Stutely
Team Manager and Athlete Support Services Coordinator at Great Britain Wheelchair Rugby
Lee Stutely
Team Manager and Athlete Support Services Coordinator at Great Britain Wheelchair Rugby
"When COVID altered college athletics as we knew it, Metrifit came to the rescue. This intuitive athlete monitoring, health and well-being system provides the athlete, coach, and sports medicine staff a way to monitor and balance the physical, emotional, health and well-being of our athlete’s. Metrifit provided that calm in the middle of the perfect storm for our entire athletic department for the future. Thank you to the entire Metrifit family for assisting our department with a seamless process."
Jennifer McIntosh
Head Athletic Trainer, Colorado School of Mines
Jennifer McIntosh
Head Athletic Trainer, Colorado School of Mines
Dan Rickaby
Assistant S&C Coach, Tulane University
Dan Rickaby
Assistant S&C Coach, Tulane University
Brijesh Patel
Quinnipiac University, Head Strength and Conditioning Coach
Brijesh Patel
Quinnipiac University, Head Strength and Conditioning Coach
Yvonne Treacy
Nutritionist, Wexford Camogie
Yvonne Treacy
Nutritionist, Wexford Camogie
Tino Fusco, B.Sc. ChPC
Head Coach, Women's Soccer, Mount Royal University (Canada)
Tino Fusco, B.Sc. ChPC
Head Coach, Women's Soccer, Mount Royal University (Canada)
Ryan Osborn
Head Basketball Coach, Carmel High School
Ryan Osborn
Head Basketball Coach, Carmel High School
Paul Cremin
Head Physiotherapist, Cornish Pirates Rugby Club
Paul Cremin
Head Physiotherapist, Cornish Pirates Rugby Club
Dan Horan
Head of Fitness for International Football/Fitness Coach Men's Senior Team
Football Association of Ireland
Dan Horan
Head of Fitness for International Football/Fitness Coach Men's Senior Team
Football Association of Ireland
Brian Clarke
Head Strength and Conditioning Co-ordinator,Noblesville High School
Brian Clarke
Head Strength and Conditioning Co-ordinator,Noblesville High School
Niall O’Driscoll
Academy Directory, SJ.B (St. Joseph’s Bray ) Academy
Niall O’Driscoll
Academy Directory, SJ.B (St. Joseph’s Bray ) Academy
Erik Helland
Director of Strength & Conditioning and Head Strength Coach Men’s basketball, University of Wisconsin
Erik Helland
Director of Strength & Conditioning and Head Strength Coach Men’s basketball, University of Wisconsin
Dave Passmore
Head Coach, Irish Hockey
Dave Passmore
Head Coach, Irish Hockey
Jason McGahan
Sports Scientist, Kildare Football, PhD Sports Science Researcher
Jason McGahan
Sports Scientist, Kildare Football, PhD Sports Science Researcher
Kari Thompson
Head Volley Ball Coach, Southern Illinois University
Kari Thompson
Head Volley Ball Coach, Southern Illinois University
Graham Williams
Athletic Development Coach, MSc ASCC
Millfield School, UK
Graham Williams
Athletic Development Coach, MSc ASCC
Millfield School, UK
Kevin Schultz
Associate Director of Strength & Conditioning
Director of Olympic Strength & Conditioning
University of Wisconsin
Kevin Schultz
Associate Director of Strength & Conditioning
Director of Olympic Strength & Conditioning
University of Wisconsin
Joe O’Connor
NISUS Fitness, S&C Coach Clare Senior Hurling, Horse Sport Ireland and Limerick Senior Hurling
Joe O’Connor
NISUS Fitness, S&C Coach Clare Senior Hurling, Horse Sport Ireland and Limerick Senior Hurling
Aaron Mansfield
Head Coach, LMU Lions, Loyola Marymount University
Aaron Mansfield
Head Coach, LMU Lions, Loyola Marymount University
Dr. Dale Richardson
CEO Achieve Total Performance Pty Ltd
Dr. Dale Richardson
CEO Achieve Total Performance Pty Ltd
Richard Deuchrass
Lincoln University Athletic Performance Manager
Richard Deuchrass
Lincoln University Athletic Performance Manager
Emma Hawke, PhD Exercise Physiology
Coach - Sweden Climbing, Olympic Offensive - Female Coach Swedish Olympic Committee, Senior Lecturer - Coach education programme (Sweden)
Emma Hawke, PhD Exercise Physiology
Coach - Sweden Climbing, Olympic Offensive - Female Coach Swedish Olympic Committee, Senior Lecturer - Coach education programme (Sweden)
Cian O’Neill
Kildare Senior Football Manager
Cian O’Neill
Kildare Senior Football Manager
Michael Torres
CEO, Shift Performance, Miami
Michael Torres
CEO, Shift Performance, Miami
Tommy Mooney
Strength and Conditioning Coach at DCU Sport and with Dublin Minor GAA
Tommy Mooney
Strength and Conditioning Coach at DCU Sport and with Dublin Minor GAA
Edgar K. Tham
Founder and Chief Sport & Performance Psychologist, SportPsych Consulting (Singapore, Indonesia, Philippines)
Edgar K. Tham
Founder and Chief Sport & Performance Psychologist, SportPsych Consulting (Singapore, Indonesia, Philippines)
Robert Karlsson, Professional Golfer
Robert Karlsson, Professional Golfer
J.B. Belzer
Head Coach, Women's Soccer at Regis University
J.B. Belzer
Head Coach, Women's Soccer at Regis University
Eamonn Fitzmaurice
Kerry Senior Football, Manager
Eamonn Fitzmaurice
Kerry Senior Football, Manager
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References
What is mental fatigue in elite sport? Perceptions from athletes and staff
Elite Athletes Are Better at Resisting Mental Fatigue by Alex Hutchinson
Elite endurance athletes possess better ability to resist mental fatigue, research shows
Mental Fatigue Can Affect Physical Endurance | American Physiological Society
Figuring out fatigue: A tired brain can hinder performance as much as a tired muscle by Ian McMahan
Joe O’Connor
NISUS Fitness, S&C Coach Clare Senior Hurling, Horse Sport Ireland and Limerick Senior Hurling
Joe O’Connor
NISUS Fitness, S&C Coach Clare Senior Hurling, Horse Sport Ireland and Limerick Senior Hurling
Dr. Dale Richardson
CEO Achieve Total Performance Pty Ltd
Dr. Dale Richardson
CEO Achieve Total Performance Pty Ltd
J.B. Belzer
Head Coach, Women's Soccer at Regis University
J.B. Belzer
Head Coach, Women's Soccer at Regis University
Aaron Mansfield
Head Coach, LMU Lions, Loyola Marymount University
Aaron Mansfield
Head Coach, LMU Lions, Loyola Marymount University
Paul Cremin
Head Physiotherapist, Cornish Pirates Rugby Club
Paul Cremin
Head Physiotherapist, Cornish Pirates Rugby Club
Brijesh Patel
Quinnipiac University, Head Strength and Conditioning Coach
Brijesh Patel
Quinnipiac University, Head Strength and Conditioning Coach
Eamonn Fitzmaurice
Kerry Senior Football, Manager
Eamonn Fitzmaurice
Kerry Senior Football, Manager
Michael Torres
CEO, Shift Performance, Miami
Michael Torres
CEO, Shift Performance, Miami
Robert Karlsson, Professional Golfer
Robert Karlsson, Professional Golfer
Graham Williams
Athletic Development Coach, MSc ASCC
Millfield School, UK
Graham Williams
Athletic Development Coach, MSc ASCC
Millfield School, UK
Dan Horan
Head of Fitness for International Football/Fitness Coach Men's Senior Team
Football Association of Ireland
Dan Horan
Head of Fitness for International Football/Fitness Coach Men's Senior Team
Football Association of Ireland
Cian O’Neill
Kildare Senior Football Manager
Cian O’Neill
Kildare Senior Football Manager
Tommy Mooney
Strength and Conditioning Coach at DCU Sport and with Dublin Minor GAA
Tommy Mooney
Strength and Conditioning Coach at DCU Sport and with Dublin Minor GAA
Dan Rickaby
Assistant S&C Coach, Tulane University
Dan Rickaby
Assistant S&C Coach, Tulane University
"When COVID altered college athletics as we knew it, Metrifit came to the rescue. This intuitive athlete monitoring, health and well-being system provides the athlete, coach, and sports medicine staff a way to monitor and balance the physical, emotional, health and well-being of our athlete’s. Metrifit provided that calm in the middle of the perfect storm for our entire athletic department for the future. Thank you to the entire Metrifit family for assisting our department with a seamless process."
Jennifer McIntosh
Head Athletic Trainer, Colorado School of Mines
Jennifer McIntosh
Head Athletic Trainer, Colorado School of Mines
Dave Passmore
Head Coach, Irish Hockey
Dave Passmore
Head Coach, Irish Hockey
Emma Hawke, PhD Exercise Physiology
Coach - Sweden Climbing, Olympic Offensive - Female Coach Swedish Olympic Committee, Senior Lecturer - Coach education programme (Sweden)
Emma Hawke, PhD Exercise Physiology
Coach - Sweden Climbing, Olympic Offensive - Female Coach Swedish Olympic Committee, Senior Lecturer - Coach education programme (Sweden)
Edgar K. Tham
Founder and Chief Sport & Performance Psychologist, SportPsych Consulting (Singapore, Indonesia, Philippines)
Edgar K. Tham
Founder and Chief Sport & Performance Psychologist, SportPsych Consulting (Singapore, Indonesia, Philippines)
Richard Deuchrass
Lincoln University Athletic Performance Manager
Richard Deuchrass
Lincoln University Athletic Performance Manager
Erik Helland
Director of Strength & Conditioning and Head Strength Coach Men’s basketball, University of Wisconsin
Erik Helland
Director of Strength & Conditioning and Head Strength Coach Men’s basketball, University of Wisconsin
Niall O’Driscoll
Academy Directory, SJ.B (St. Joseph’s Bray ) Academy
Niall O’Driscoll
Academy Directory, SJ.B (St. Joseph’s Bray ) Academy
Yvonne Treacy
Nutritionist, Wexford Camogie
Yvonne Treacy
Nutritionist, Wexford Camogie
Brian Clarke
Head Strength and Conditioning Co-ordinator,Noblesville High School
Brian Clarke
Head Strength and Conditioning Co-ordinator,Noblesville High School
Ryan Osborn
Head Basketball Coach, Carmel High School
Ryan Osborn
Head Basketball Coach, Carmel High School
Lee Stutely
Team Manager and Athlete Support Services Coordinator at Great Britain Wheelchair Rugby
Lee Stutely
Team Manager and Athlete Support Services Coordinator at Great Britain Wheelchair Rugby
Jason McGahan
Sports Scientist, Kildare Football, PhD Sports Science Researcher
Jason McGahan
Sports Scientist, Kildare Football, PhD Sports Science Researcher
Kari Thompson
Head Volley Ball Coach, Southern Illinois University
Kari Thompson
Head Volley Ball Coach, Southern Illinois University
Tino Fusco, B.Sc. ChPC
Head Coach, Women's Soccer, Mount Royal University (Canada)
Tino Fusco, B.Sc. ChPC
Head Coach, Women's Soccer, Mount Royal University (Canada)
Kevin Schultz
Associate Director of Strength & Conditioning
Director of Olympic Strength & Conditioning
University of Wisconsin
Kevin Schultz
Associate Director of Strength & Conditioning
Director of Olympic Strength & Conditioning
University of Wisconsin