Exploring “Sledging” and Interpersonal Emotion-Regulation Strategies in Professional Cricket

Abstract

The present study examines cricketers' perceptions of emotional interactions between competitors. Semi-structured interviews with twelve male professional cricketers explored experiences (i.e., emotions, cognitions, behaviours) relating to incidents during competition where they or an opponent attempted to evoke an emotional reaction (e.g., sledging). Cricketers described their use of sledging as aggressive actions and verbal interactions with the aim of disrupting concentration and altering the emotional states of opponents. Cricketers described experiencing a variety of emotions (e.g., anxiety, anger) in response to opponents' attempts at interpersonal emotion regulation; linguistic analyses indicated that both positive than negative emotions were experienced. A range of strategies in response to competitors' deliberate attempts at interpersonal emotion regulation were outlined. The present study extends previous research investigating interpersonal emotion regulation within teams, by highlighting that professional cricketers are aware of the impact of cognitions and emotions on performance and attempt to negatively influence these factors in competitors.

Temporal aspects of affective states, physiological responses, and perceived exertion in competitive cycling time trials

“…Previous research exploring temporal aspects of emotions and affect in sport have predominantly collected psychophysiological measurements in the moments preceding competition 6,7 and/or following the completion of sport‐related tasks 8 . Attempts to investigate the experience of emotions and affective states during competition have relied upon the recounting of critical incidents in qualitative interviews, 9 the completing of questionnaires immediately following a match, 3 and the use of techniques such as video‐assisted recall 2 . However, the research designs used in these studies limit their ability to simultaneously record athletes’ physiological responses and affective states as they occur in real time and in relation to performance demands.…”

Artificial Intelligence in Sport: An Ethical Issue

“…Sledging has been reported as an ethical issues of cricket. Sledging is described as; 'aggressive actions and verbal interactions with the aim of disrupting concentration and altering the emotional states of opponents' (Davis et al, 2018). Cricketers do use sledging to gain competitive advantage in the game (Fraser, 2003;Dixon, 2007;Joseph & Cramer, 2011;Hancock, 2013;Davis et al, 2018).…”

“…Sledging is described as; 'aggressive actions and verbal interactions with the aim of disrupting concentration and altering the emotional states of opponents' (Davis et al, 2018). Cricketers do use sledging to gain competitive advantage in the game (Fraser, 2003;Dixon, 2007;Joseph & Cramer, 2011;Hancock, 2013;Davis et al, 2018). To tackle this issue umpires and broadcasters oversee on-field players' communications through cameras and stump mics.…”

Examining Group Differences in Emotion Regulation Strategies and the State and Trait Anxiety of Lifeguards and Non-Lifeguards in a Real-World Precompetitive Situation

“…Future research should build on the current findings and explore in more depth the reasons for swimmer-lifeguards displaying lower levels of cognitive and somatic state anxiety and cognitive trait anxiety than swimmer-non-lifeguards. Specifically analysing use of mental skills, such as reframing or refocusing (Davis, Davis, Wills, Appleby, & Nieuwenhuys, 2018), in their emotion regulation, and understanding the surrounding influencers to this, i.e. the lifeguard's natural predisposition and ability to cope with anxiety (Avramidou et al, 2007;Wismeijer & Gomà-i-Freixanet, 2012), or the lifeguard training process as a factor in influencing their anxiety in real-life stressful situations.…”