 FEAR OF FAILURE IN SCHOOL AND SPORT: THE ROLE OF EXCELLENCISM AND PERFECTIONISM 
This article presents a new theory designed to contrast the effects of excellencism and perfectionism. A study was performed on a sample of 156 university students who participated in organized sports. Perfectionism, over and above excellencism, had a null incremental effect on sport and school achievement and a debilitative incremental effect on fear of failure and difficulty to balance sport and school. The pursuit of perfection appears unnecessary. Pursuing excellence appears to be good enough to earn optimal performance, minimize fear of failure in sport and school, and reduce difficulties in balancing sport and school.