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Sport PsychologySport Psychology

IntroductioIntroductionn

The study of how people think, The study of how people think, feel and behave in sport feel and behave in sport situations, and what mental situations, and what mental processes MOTIVATE the way processes MOTIVATE the way athletes behave in training and athletes behave in training and competition.competition.

Sport psychologists are interested Sport psychologists are interested in athletes Thoughts, Behaviours, in athletes Thoughts, Behaviours, & Emotions. & Emotions.

What is Sport What is Sport PsychologyPsychology

Complete absence of doubt/ dear of failureComplete absence of doubt/ dear of failure Lack of self analysis of performance during competition.Lack of self analysis of performance during competition. Narrow focus of attentionNarrow focus of attention Sense of effortlessnessSense of effortlessness Feeling in controlFeeling in control No feelings of being rushed. No feelings of being rushed.

Ideal Performance States:Ideal Performance States:

Coaches have an important part of Coaches have an important part of sports psychology and many have sports psychology and many have some sort of training in this field to some sort of training in this field to build skills as a coach. build skills as a coach.

An example would be An example would be John John Wooden.Wooden.

Had 4 perfect seasons, 38 NCAA Had 4 perfect seasons, 38 NCAA tournament wins. tournament wins.

Believed that success is a peace of Believed that success is a peace of mind, a direct result of personal mind, a direct result of personal satisfaction in doing your best. satisfaction in doing your best.

Treated players like they were part Treated players like they were part of his family, never criticizing and of his family, never criticizing and always encouraging. always encouraging.

Coaching- Positive Coaching- Positive AspectAspect

Many coaches influence players in a positive manner. What are some examples?

• e.g. e.g. Bobbie KnightBobbie Knight (negative side) (negative side)

• Nicknamed "The GeneralNicknamed "The General““

• One of the most successful NCAA One of the most successful NCAA coaches evercoaches ever

• 3 time NCAA Championship (w/ 3 time NCAA Championship (w/ Indiana)Indiana)

• Best Record in one season, went Best Record in one season, went 32-032-0

• However one of the most However one of the most controversial coaches at the same controversial coaches at the same timetime

• Created fear in his athletesCreated fear in his athletes

Coaching- Negative Coaching- Negative AspectAspect

Why would this type of coach be a good thing or a bad thing?

The Triad! The Triad! - - emphasizes that sport psychology attempts to enhance quality of emphasizes that sport psychology attempts to enhance quality of athletes participation in sport by helping athletes achieve athletes participation in sport by helping athletes achieve::

1.1.OOptimal PERFORMANCEptimal PERFORMANCE

2.2.Optimal EXPERIENCESOptimal EXPERIENCES

3.3.Optimal DEVELOPMENTOptimal DEVELOPMENT

Objectives of Sport Objectives of Sport PsychologyPsychology

Enhancing athletes performance in sports by: Enhancing athletes performance in sports by: - imagery, relaxation, self-talk, interventions, and - imagery, relaxation, self-talk, interventions, and mental mental training training

Coaches believe that athletes who are mentally Coaches believe that athletes who are mentally skilled in terms skilled in terms of of confidence, coping ability, confidence, coping ability, and concentrationand concentration perform better than those perform better than those athletes who are less mentally skilled.athletes who are less mentally skilled.

Mental skills can be taught to athletes, which in Mental skills can be taught to athletes, which in turn enhances their performance.turn enhances their performance.

Because performance and winning is so important Because performance and winning is so important to the society, optimal development and to the society, optimal development and experiences for athletes are usually overlooked. experiences for athletes are usually overlooked.

Achieving Optimal Achieving Optimal PerformancePerformance

Outstanding physical abilities occur due to the unique Outstanding physical abilities occur due to the unique environment in which athletes develop their competitive skillsenvironment in which athletes develop their competitive skills

EEg, parents guiding and coaching their children at a young age in a g, parents guiding and coaching their children at a young age in a positive atmosphere. positive atmosphere.

Achieving Optimal DevelopmentAchieving Optimal Development

Earl Woods affect on Tiger Woods as a young athlete.

Sport psychology attempts to help all athletes experience optimal development of their:

Physical skillsImportant self perceptions (feelings of self-worth and competence

• Children join sports teams to develop skills, have fun and be with their friends

• Children must develop a sense of ability to master physical skills to feel personally competent before they can engage in serious competition.

Focusing only on the outcome misses the essence of what Focusing only on the outcome misses the essence of what a sport means to an athlete. a sport means to an athlete.

You donYou don’’t have to be a world class tennis players or t have to be a world class tennis players or Olympians or NHL superstar to enjoy optimal experiences Olympians or NHL superstar to enjoy optimal experiences in sport.in sport.

FLOW: and optima mental state involving total FLOW: and optima mental state involving total absorption in a task. absorption in a task. Most athletes refer to it as being in “THE ZONE”Most athletes refer to it as being in “THE ZONE” This feeling typically leads individuals to fall in love with This feeling typically leads individuals to fall in love with

sports.sports. Flow is AUTOTELIC: the experience of playing a sport is Flow is AUTOTELIC: the experience of playing a sport is

rewarding in itself without concern for the outcome. rewarding in itself without concern for the outcome.

Achieving Optimal Achieving Optimal ExperienceExperience

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oazw-Cdsmd4&feature=related

The Role of the Mind The Role of the Mind in Sportsin Sports

1.1. Knowledge of reality: Knowledge of reality: Athletes must understand what is possible and what is notAthletes must understand what is possible and what is not

2.2. A goal to purue:A goal to purue: The reason for the journey, the end pointThe reason for the journey, the end point Athletes know it is not an easy task but they have to be Athletes know it is not an easy task but they have to be

mentally tough. mentally tough.

3.3. The will to action:The will to action: The athletes will make decisions in their mind that will The athletes will make decisions in their mind that will

determine if they should pursue their goal. determine if they should pursue their goal. Must have the drive and determination to push their body Must have the drive and determination to push their body

on the road to success. on the road to success. Sport is a celebration of the human mind. Sport is a celebration of the human mind. An athlete has to keep their minds as fit and sculpted An athlete has to keep their minds as fit and sculpted

as their body. as their body.

Key Points: Key Points: