Tharp and Smith Model

The Tharp and Smith Model is a framework used in sports psychology to understand and enhance athletic performance. It emphasizes the interaction of three key components: the athlete's skill level, the challenge of the task, and the athlete's level of arousal or stress. Optimal performance occurs when these elements are balanced—challenging enough to motivate without causing anxiety. The model helps coaches and athletes identify when an athlete is in a state of “flow” or optimal focus, guiding practices to adjust task difficulty or mental state to improve consistency and achievement.