A new study from the University of Birmingham has examined the effects of sledging on sports performance, finding that while it increases anger and distraction, it does not significantly affect shooting accuracy. The research, published in the Journal of Sports Science, involved 60 novice basketball players who were subjected to verbal jibes from opponents before free-throw attempts.
The study found that participants felt more angry and distracted when sledged, but overall performance remained unchanged. Academics suggest that while some players are negatively affected, many feed off the abuse. This aligns with a 2008 study on trash talking in a computer-based American football game, which also found no performance impact.
Other research indicates that 83% of college athletes say trash talking inspires them to improve. A 2011 study on young cricketers found that most believed sledging affected their batting, but some needed it to become engaged in the match. However, the Birmingham researchers note their insults were limited by ethics codes, unlike real competitive matches.
Attitudes towards sledging may be shifting. An Australian study last year found only 21% of participants agreed that sledging is a natural part of sport, while 61% disagreed. The same study suggested that sledging should be funny and creative rather than hurtful or offensive to preserve the spirit of sport.
