Is the breadth of individualized ranges of optimal anxiety (IZOF) equal for all athletes? A graphical method for establishing IZOF.

Recall and direct methods to determine the individual zone of optimal functioning (IZOF) cannot account for potential individual differences in the span of optimal anxiety. Accordingly, an attempt was made to test a graphical technique that could establish the span of optimal anxiety ranges for individuals. State anxiety (STAI; Spielberger, Gorusch, & Lushene, 1970; and CSAI-2; Martens, Burton, Vealey, Bump, & Smith, 1990) was assessed before competitions (10 to 20) in six Spanish golfers during a season. Performance in each match was determined using golf scores and self-ratings. Optimal anxiety ranges were established graphically by plotting individual scores of precompetition anx…