THE EFFECTS THAT MUSIC HAVE ON ATHLETE’S PERFORMANCE

1
The Effects That Music Have On Athletes
Performance By Dr. Shelby Brenden Malone
Benedict College
Results
Conclusion
Abstract
Music has made a major impact on sports in the
20th century. Most athletes use music to seek
comfort, build up their mental strength, motivate
themselves and their fans before the game, and
use as a gate way to blur out all of the extra
noises. Currently, music has been a tool for
athletes to use to stay focus and keep their mood
swings regulated while they warming-up before a
game. Athletes also listen to music to give
themselves a competitive edge and the music helps
them to perform better than their competitors
players who do not listen to music before they
compete. The purpose of this study was to
investigate why most athletes use music as a tool
for warm-ups and why they feel that their
performances are much better after listening to
music. Seeing that music and sports have been
very compatible to each other - in certain ways,
this research shows what type or styles of music
that may enhance or may have a negative effect on
athletes performances. This research also
reveals that most athletes have used music as a
motivational tool, and as an outlet to increase
their performance levels.
66 of the participants are males and only 34
were females. Even though this survey received a
100 in participation, 88 of the participants
stated that music helps them to focus before and
during their competitions while the other 12
stated that music does not. 59 of the
participants chose to listen to rap music, 33
listen to other genres, and 8 would rather be in
silence or not listen to music at all before or
while they are competing in sports. 48 of the
participants stated that they feel focused, 44
felt relaxed, and the other 8 stated that they
feel uncomfortable or do not feel any certain
way about listening to music before or during
their competitions. 48 participants stated
different types of music affect their
performances, while 46 think differently, but 6
explained they would rather be in in silence.
72 thinks that music helps them to reach a
competitive edge to win games, and 28 claimed
that music does not.
After receiving the results, this study proved
that athletes use music to receive a competitive
edge over the other athletes. The results include
that most athletes preferred listening to music
before and while they are competing because most
of them stating that certain types of music
causes them to keep focus on their objectives and
relaxes their mental state as well. Along with
choosing the certain types of music, this study
revealed that majority of the participants rather
listen to rap music before and during their
performance. After reviewing these results, this
study can be used to identify the types of music
that can motivate their athletes, reveal how
music can assist their athletes with their sport
performances, mood swings, and competitive edge.
Does music help you stay focus before and during
your performance?
What type of music do you like to listen while
playing sports?
References
Methods
How do you feel when youre listening to music?
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(2007). A grounded theory of young tennis
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The construction of masculinity in African
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Music, 27(2), 204-226. North, A., Tarrant, M.,
Hargreaves, D. (2004). The Effects of Music on
Helping Behavior A Field Study Environment and
Behavior Retrieved by Environment and Behavior
March 2004 36 266-275. Chtourou, H., Chaouachi,
A., Hammouda, O., Chamari, K., Souissi, N.
(2012). Listening to music affects diurnal
variation in muscle power output. Retrieved by
Int J Sports Med, 33(1), 43-7. Bateman, A.,
Bale, J. (Eds.). (2008). Sporting sounds
Relationships between sport and music. Retrieved
Routledge London, United Kingdom.
Participants A stratified sample was used in
this study. This study consisted of surveying 100
student athletes who attend an HBCU, at a
Division II Institution (Benedict College).
Demographics were gender, classification, and
sport.
Does different type of music affect your
performance?
Do you think music will help you get a
competitive edge to win the game?