Rising to the occasion: A qualitative investigation of clutch moments in sport

The term “clutch moment” has been used to refer to athletes performing successfully during specific moments in sport where the athlete perceives an increased level of pressure. Whilst performing well in these moments of high pressure is a crucial part of athlete performance overall, few studies have qualitatively explored how athletes may perform well in these moments. Seventeen athletes, ranging in expertise from recreational to successful-elite, participated in event-focused, semi-structured interviews soon after experiencing a clutch moment. Data were analyzed through reflexive thematic analysis. Three themes were generated: (1) athletes can appraise pressure across different sporting contexts; (2) clutch moments were facilitated by three key antecedents; and (3) various strategies were implemented to facilitate athlete performance during moments of high pressure. These themes suggest that clutch moments can occur across different sports (e.g., golf, soccer, tennis) and that athletes can facilitate successful performance during such moments using strategies such as pre-performance routines and imagery. These findings provide further support for the use of pressure training interventions and insight into the development of theory underpinning the occurrence of clutch moments. How, and in what sporting environments, athletes are able to perform well during specific moments of high pressure is explored. Given the importance of these moments in elite sport, we discuss the individual factors and strategies that athletes can implement to perform optimally when experiencing high pressure. Athletes can appraise pressure in both closed and open skill sporting environments, suggesting that clutch moments can occur in both these contextsFacilitative appraisals of pressure, task-focused attention, and acceptance of outcomes may benefit an athlete in experiencing a clutch moment in both closed and open skill sporting environments Athletes can appraise pressure in both closed and open skill sporting environments, suggesting that clutch moments can occur in both these contexts Facilitative appraisals of pressure, task-focused attention, and acceptance of outcomes may benefit an athlete in experiencing a clutch moment in both closed and open skill sporting environments