Performance in public: Young tennis players' reactions to different types audiences

Abstract: The purpose of this study was to examine the effect audience types have on young tennis athlete’s performance and behaviours and to investigate how previous experiences, social relationships, and audience awareness correlate to audience effect and coping strategies. Participants (n=4) (m=11.5 years) were given 4 weeks task-motivational climate training followed by 2 match days consisting of 5 matches of varying audiences; no audience, family, others, coaches and cameras. Quantitative data was evaluated by experts. Qualitative data was obtained by post-match semi-structured interviews. Each participant displayed different reactions to audience effects. Quantitative results were not generalizable but were used in interviews to stimulate participants. General themes of audience types were found; cameras resulted in physical appearance awareness, coaches resulted in mistake avoidance, and no audience resulted in lower concentration levels. Playing tennis helped develop coping strategies for performance in public, where further training by stimulation of various audience types was highlighted. These results support previous theoretical frameworks but highlight a need of further emphasis on audiences. A Multi-dimensional Model of Audience Effect in Athletic Performance was proposed. Training in front of varying audience types should be implemented in tennis training, and further research into different sports is needed.