Mood scores: Mood and performance in professional cricketers

Abstract

Do changes in the performance of professional sports players relate to changes in their moods? Thirty‐three professional county cricketers from four teams used pocket computers to provide ratings of their moods and performance three times a day for up to 4 days during a championship match. Pooled time‐series analysis and correlation analysis showed that players' subjective and objective performances were related to their happiness, energy, enthusiasm, focus and confidence during the match. The majority of players also performed better when they felt less tense, but some performed better when they felt more tense. Differences in players' recollection of their moods during best and worst performances reinforced the findings. The results suggest that professional cricketers' performances are influenced by their moods.