Chapter 16: Preparing and Following a Competition Plan

Question 1

In general, what is a competition plan?

Answer 1

In general, a competition plan refers to those things that an athlete can do, say, think about, concentrate on and attend to on the day of, just before, and during the competition that will maximize the chances of the individual performing up to his potential. A competition plan includes strategies to minimize the effect of distractions, cope with distractors which can’t be minimized, deal with competitive anxiety, achieve an optimal level of arousal for the particular event or competition, maintain confidence and concentration, minimize the effects of fatigue and maximize effort.

Question 2

What period of time is covered by a competition focusing plan? Describe an example for a sport.

Answer 2

Covers the period of time from the beginning to the end of the competition. An example is from when the first whistle blows in soccer to the last buzzer ending the game.

Question 3

What is the general goal of a competition focusing plan?

Answer 3

The general goal is to ensure that, once a competition begins, the athlete will experience the covert and overt behaviours that characterize optimal performance.

Question 4

List the five potential distractors at competitions listed in figure 16-7.

Answer 4

1. Psych-out attempts by opponents (eg. specific comments, body language, disruptions)
2. Thinking negatively about a skill (eg. falling on a jump or move, missing a shot)
3. Feeling nervous or anxious before a competition or a shot or a routine.
4. Feeling tired or starting to hurt during a competition.
5. Thinking negatively about facilities (eg. the gym, field, rink, etc.)

Question 5

What two aspects of an athlete’s performance should a post-competition evaluation assess?

Answer 5

A post-competition checklist should enable an athlete to self-assess their athletic performance as well as their mental performance and readiness.