B.5 - Psychology of Sports

Question 1

Outline the term talent (B.5.1)

Answer 1

Talent is a multidimensional concept identified by characteristics that are only partially genetically determined.

Question 2

What factors does talent involve?

Answer 2

Psychological factors
Physiological factors
Motor factors
Sociological factors
Environmental factors

Question 3

Distinguish between talent identification (TI) and multidimensional talent identification and development (TID) processes

Answer 3

Talent identification (TI) in sport refers to the process of recognizing current athletes with potential for attaining expert performance. Talent development (TD), on the other hand, concerns developing athletes into world-class performers through a series of intervention programs such as physical training. To pursuit excellence in sport, many sport organizations have either initiated and/or adopted TI/TD schemes

Question 4

Define Talent Identification (TI)

Answer 4

In sports, refers to the process of recognizing current athletes with potential for attaining expert performance

Question 5

What testing does TI involve?

Answer 5

Subjective Assessments and Objective Testing

Question 6

Components of Objective Testing?

Answer 6

Physiological (such as aerobic capacity, anaerobic power, speed, strength)
Anthropometric (such as height, weight, body composition)
Performance-based (such as skill and agility)

Question 7

Define Multidimensional Talent Identification and Development (TID)

Answer 7

This concerns developing athletes into world-class performers through a series of intervention programs such as physical training. To pursuit excellence in sport, many sport organizations have either initiated and/or adopted TI/TD schemes.
OR
 Recognizes that talent also evolves as a result of an athlete actively interacting with the environment and having the resilience to cope with the challenges and setbacks they encounter

Question 8

Difference Between TI and TID (B.5.2)

Answer 8

TI is solely recognizing/identifying talent in an athlete. TID is seeing the potential and then working with the athlete to DEVELOP the skills. These skills are more than physical, intending to create a resilient athlete that can cope with challenges.

Question 9

The evolution of talent can be facilitated through the application of psychological behaviors that include:

Answer 9

• mental imagery
• realistic goal setting
• effective evaluation of performance/self evaluation
• self-reinforcement
• training to a high intensity (outside comfort zone)
• handling failure
• performance arousal and control

Question 10

Three factors of multidimensional TID

Answer 10

1. Monitoring an individual’s progress and behaviour during a development programme over time.
2. Balancing weaknesses in one area and strengths in other areas
3. Providing athletes with opportunities to develop psychological behaviours along with sport-specific skills

Question 11

Explain the evolution of talent for athlete development.

Four Stages of Development) (B.5.3

Answer 11

Bloom (1985) and Cote (1999)
1. Initiation Stage
2. Development Stage
3. Mastery Stage
4. Maintenance Stage

Question 12

Explain Initiation Stage in Athlete Development

Answer 12

young athletes are introduced to organized sports and during which they are identified as talented athletes; lower amount of deliberate practice and higher amount of deliberate play. Practice is more coach or parent led. Involvement in several sports

Question 13

Explain Development Stage in Athlete Development

Answer 13

athletes become more dedicated to their sport and the amount of training and level of specialization are increased. Balanced amount of deliberate of play and deliberate practice. Practice is more coach or parent led. Reduced involvement in several sports.

Question 14

Explain Mastery Stage in Athlete Development

Answer 14

which athletes reach their highest level of athletic proficiency. lower amount of deliberate play and higher amount of deliberate practice. Practice becomes more athlete led. Specialization in one sport

Question 15

Explain Maintenance Stage in Athlete Development

Answer 15

Perfection Stage

Question 16

Understanding B.5.3

Answer 16

Different psychological behaviors and sports participation goals will vary according to the athlete’s stage.

The existence of stages suggests that as athletes encounter opportunities, obstacles and progressions, many aspects of their performance may become unstable.

The developing athlete uses psychological behaviors to cope with these unstable periods.
These behaviors are key to continued development of the individual and consistent production of world-class performances by elite athletes.

Question 17

Define talent transfer

Answer 17

reduction or cessation of participation in one sport in order to pursue another sport that involves similar skills or physiological requirements

Question 18

Outline talent transfer for elite athletes changing to a second sport (B.5.4)

Answer 18

1. It may be prompted by injury, a plateau in
   performance, loss of motivation or retirement
2. It may be initiated by the athlete or coordinated
   by a sporting organization
3. It commonly prolongs an athlete’s sporting
   career and can lead to greater success than
   that in the first sport

Question 19

Talent Transfer: Progress through the stages of development in the new sport is usually rapid because the athlete –

Answer 19

• has the capacity to use psychological behaviors to respond to challenges
• can exploit existing physiological traits and motor skills
• has improved motivation.

Question 20

Can talent transfer occur with very different sports?

Answer 20

talent transfer can occur in seemingly unrelated sports in relation to psychology because all sports, have a base psychology that is relevant to all sports. Drive, focus, determination, etc. When a sport is also physically similar talent transfer will be faster, but talent transfer can occur in physically unrelated sports, due to the talent transfer of the psychology skills needed.