Optimal performance state
The optimal performance state is the individual combination of physical, emotional and mental qualities in which an athlete produces their best result. The concept was introduced by the psychologist A. V. Alexeyev as a working model of "your own" pre-start state.
Definition
Alexeyev describes this state through three components: physical (tone, bodily sensations), emotional (level of arousal) and mental (concentration and the content of your thoughts). It is different for everyone: one athlete needs fury and a high lift, another needs cold calm. The task is to recognise the signs of your own best state and learn to bring it on at will. The closest concepts in Western research are the zone of optimal functioning and the peak performance state.
How it shows up in sport
Athletes in this state describe it as everything happening by itself, with lightness and clarity. Not having a reliable version of it is a common cause of inconsistent results: you catch the state one day and not the next. When you can't get yourself together at the start, that is precisely missing your optimal zone — too little arousal or too much.
Related tests
To describe your own optimal state it helps to record how you felt before good and bad competitions, using the arousal and anxiety questionnaires in the tests section as a reference. Matching test results against how well you performed lets you work out your optimal zone. That turns intuition into concrete, repeatable markers.
Exercises
The key exercise is writing your own "formula": a description of your best state, in words and images, across all three components. You then bring it on through autosuggestion, breathing and warm-up rituals. State-tuning practices are in the exercises section.
Related terms and issues
This state is reached through mental self-regulation and psyching up and calming down, and is blocked by muscle tightness. Being able to enter it resolves inconsistent results and helps you get yourself together at the start. A sport psychologist can help you write your own formula.
FAQ
Is the optimal performance state the same for every athlete?
No, it is strictly individual. Some people need a high emotional lift to produce their best, others need calm composure. The task is to find the state that is optimal for you.
How do I find my own optimal performance state?
By observing yourself: record the physical sensations, emotions and thoughts you had before good competitions, then learn to reproduce that formula through breathing, your warm-up and autosuggestion.
Related topics
See also
When you need a personal review
If the challenge recurs, affects results, or causes strong tension for the athlete, it is better to discuss it with a specialist. Sports Talk helps you find a psychologist and a format that fits the sport, age and upcoming calendar.