HUMOR AND PERFORMANCE

Using humor to reduce anxiety and increase cohesion.

Humor is an underappreciated but vital tool in the psychological arsenal. Physiologically, laughter reduces cortisol levels and releases endorphins, acting as a natural antidote to competitive stress.

Socially, shared humor strengthens team bonds, creating a common language and reducing tension at critical moments.

An environment where laughter is allowed (at the right times) is an environment where fear of failure diminishes.

A practical example: before a decisive penalty shootout, the tension in the center circle is palpable.

An astute coach or captain might tell a short, funny anecdote about a past mistake of his own or make an inside team joke.

Such collective laughter momentarily breaks anxiety paralysis, relaxes tense musculature and restores a lighter perspective to the players, reminding them that it is, after all, just a game.

This emotional "reboot" can be the difference between shooting fearfully or fluidly.

Effects on creativity and perspective.

Humor is also linked to cognitive flexibility. The ability to find the funny in a situation requires seeing things from a different angle, a skill that transfers directly to tactical creativity on the field.

Athletes who can laugh at their mistakes tend to be more resilient and take more creative risks, as they are not paralyzed by embarrassment.

Imagine a soccer playmaker who attempts a spectacular dribble and trips over the ball. If his internal reaction is one of embarrassment and total seriousness, he will become conservative.

If he is able to smile in the face of his awkwardness, his brain remains in an open and creative learning mode.

Humor activates brain areas related to problem solving, allowing the player, instead of blocking, to invent a novel solution on the next play.

Incorporating playful and fun games into training encourages this inventive mindset.

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