Coping refers to “constantly changing cognitive and
behavioral efforts to manage specific external and/or
internal demands that are appraised as taxing or exceeding
the resources of the person” (Lazarus & Folkman,
1984, p. 141). Coping strategies are considered distinct
from emotion regulation strategies (see Emotion
Regulation), in that coping refers to voluntary, effortful
responses to manage demands and does not include
involuntary, automatic, or nonconscious emotional
responses (Crocker, Tamminen, & Gaudreau, 2015). Coping strategies in sport are commonly classified as
problem-focused (e.g., I tried to find a way to change
the situation), emotion-focused (e.g., I tried to use different
strategies that would help me control my emotions),
or avoidance (e.g., I tried to get out of the
situation to get away from the stress) (Kowalski &
Crocker, 2001). Another system of classification categorizes
coping strategies as task-oriented (e.g., I gave
my best effort), disengagement-oriented (e.g., I wished
that the competition would end immediately), or
distraction-oriented strategies (e.g., I occupied my mind
in order to think about other things than the competition)
(Gaudreau & Blondin, 2002). Some coping strategies
may serve multiple functions: e.g., athletes may
seek social support to get advice about a stressor (e.g.,
problem-focused coping), and to also help manage the
negative emotions arising from the stressful situation
(e.g., emotion-focused coping).
Coping effectiveness depends on the desired goal or
outcome: some strategies may be effective in helping
athletes to achieve performance goals, whereas other
strategies may be effective for athletes to manage their
emotions or maintain positive relationships with
others; however, there is no universally effective or
ineffective coping strategy (Lazarus, 1999). Effective
coping in sport generally includes engagementoriented
or problem-focused coping strategies, and
athletes with profiles of coping that include higher
levels of task-oriented coping and lower levels of
disengagement-oriented coping typically report better
goal attainment and psychological adjustment
(Gaudreau & Blondin, 2004).
