Outsiders

Sports can be full of surprises. Especially, when outsiders or supposedly weak team suddenly triumph over the favorite player. Iceland and Austria just qualified for the EM. And top player Serena Williams lost to Roberta Vinci in the semifinals of the U.S. Open. And yet another outsider, Pennetta, won against Vinci in the final. Outsiders win. Favorites loose. It’s the unpredictable element in sports – there are just no guarantees.

In the end it has to do with form, of course, but also self-efficacy and mental focus. As an outsider you don’t have much to loose, as a favorite, on the other hand, a lot. If you enter the pitch with arrogance and too much self-confidence, you may easily underestimate your opponent’s strengths. For each game the cards are reshuffled. Too many rely on past successes, which were created unter different conditions, rather than focusing on their current form. Just like you have good and bad days, so does your opponent. When falling behind in the game, it’s hard to keep the eye on the ball.

Just the same, outsiders need to find the right balance between arousal, self-efficacy and respect for the other player. So when you find yourself on the pitch against the top seeded player it is essential to stay focused and not give up too soon. What do you have to loose?

Both sides have to be able to tune out distractions and keep the mind on the game. The next ball, the next move. In the end you can’t control everything. Pennetta did it right. Her decision to end her career after this match may have provided her with the necessary relaxed focus without loosing her game. This spark of devotion can be decisive. “If it’s meant to be, I will win. But it’s not all in my hands.”

For Iceland and Austria the journey has just begun. They are in a good position to build on their enthusiasm. Their self-efficacy must build on their abilities and potential, and is not tainted by successes from the past. For the defending champion it’s a different story with much different expectations. But for each game the cards are reshuffled. New game. New luck.