Ch. 11 - Psychological Skills Training (PST)

Question 1

Why are Psychological skills neglected?

Answer 1

• Lack of Knowledge
• Psychological skills are viewed as unchangeable (not everyone can be an expert)
• Lack of time
• PST myths (problem scenarios, hypnosis, quick fixes)

Question 2

What are the 3 phases of PST?

Answer 2

1. Educational phase
2. Acquisition Phase
3. Practice Phase

Question 3

What is the Educational phase of PST?

Answer 3

where you gain knowledge/background

Question 4

What is the Acquisition phase?

Answer 4

being taught psychological skill

teaching to acquire

Question 5

What is the Practice Phase?

Answer 5

never practice in breaks

practice on practice time on your own or with your coach

Question 6

When is the best time to implement a program and how frequently?

Answer 6

Better to be more frequent, but shorter meetings are better (like once a week)
It is also good to practice before sleeping

Question 7

What are the pros and cons of a coach or a sport psychologist administering the PST program?

Answer 7

Coaches will know the athlete more but might not have the expertise. However, they can learn from the expert and teach it.
Sport Psychologists have the expertise but might not know the athlete that well. They can also be expensive to hire.

Question 8

What should you consider when designing a PST program?

Answer 8

Discuss your approach (what you can offer)
Assess the athletes mental skills through 3 ways:
-Interviews
-Observations
-Assessments
Determine psychological skills to include
Design a PST schedule
Evaluate the program (what worked, what didn’t)

Question 9

What are common problems in implementing a PST program?

Answer 9

-Lack of Conviction (wanting to be there)
-Lack of time
-Lack of sport knowledge
Lack of follow-up