The effect of self-talk on the performance of 24 junior tennis players (mean age 15.4 yr) during tournament matches was examined. It was found that negative self-talk was associated with losing and that players who reported believing in the utility of positive self-talk won more points than players who did not. The results suggest that the type of self-talk engaged in by athletes influences competitive outcomes. Implication: It is important for athletes to know why and how to engage in positive self-talk as part of their competition conduct.
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