1Faculty of Management, Josai University, Saitama, Japan
2College of Education, Yokohama National University, Kanagawa, Japan
College Athletes’ Evaluation of Yips in Baseball
J. Anthr. Sport Phys. Educ. 2026, 10(1), Ahead of Print | DOI: 10.26773/jaspe.260101
Abstract
The absence of standardized methods to evaluate the occurrence and progression of yips in athletes has been noted. This study explored the criteria used by college baseball players to evaluate their own and others’ yips. The data were collected using an open-ended survey, administered to 218 baseball players at three Japanese universities. The data were analyzed using qualitative content analysis, which identified higher- and lower-order themes in the self and external evaluations. The self-evaluations revealed 10 lower-order and 3 high-order themes, whereas the external evaluation produced 15 lower-order and 4 high-order themes. The self-evaluations prioritized internal sensations and emotions, whereas the external evaluations focused on observable behaviors like wild throws. The findings suggest that comprehensive assessment of the yips requires the integration of both subjective internal experiences and objective observable behaviors. Practical applications include the development of multidimensional evaluation frameworks that combine self-report measures with video analysis and kinematic assessments for coaches and practitioners working with athletes affected by the yips.
Keywords
task-specific dystonia, psychological and physical interplay, athletic performance assessment, qualitative evaluation framework, baseball throwing mechanics
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