Concentration

Question 1

Concentration

Answer 1

Concentration- the act of putting one’s attention towards one specific purpose

Considered an organizational psychological skill since it regulates all others to some extent. An athlete with continuous concentration may occasionally wear down a physically stronger opponent

Question 2

What is attention?

Answer 2

Describe withdrawal from certain things to deal efficiently with others

Question 3

What is focus?

Answer 3

A spot at which one’s attention is concentrated

Question 4

When does concentration in sports happen?

Answer 4

When one’s mind and senses are entirely focused on an object, player action, or set of circumstances to the execution of all else

Question 5

What are the 4 parts of sports concentration

Answer 5

Focusing on Relevant Environmental Cues

Maintain Attentional Focus

Maintaining Situation Awareness

Shifting Attentional Focus

Question 6

What is Focusing on Relevant Environmental Cues?

Answer 6

Known as selective attention, irrelevant cues are either ignored and eliminated

Question 7

What is Maintain Attentional Focus?

Answer 7

Concentration also includes maintaining attentional focus throughout the competition. This is challenging because thought sampling studies have indicated that the median length of time throught center remains on target is roughly 5 seconds

Question 8

What is Maintaining Situation Awareness?

Answer 8

The capacity of an athlete to grasp what is going on around him is the most intriguing and significant aspect of attentional focus on sport. This skill helps players assess game situations, opponents, and contests to make suitable judgments based on circumstances, often under extreme pressure and time constraints.

Question 9

What is
Shifting Attentional Focus?

Answer 9

During an event, it is frequently essential to adjust attentional focus. This attentional flexibility is defined as the capacity to change the scope and focus of attention required by the circumstances.

Question 10

What are the 3 processes of attentional focus?

Answer 10

Attentional Selectivity
Attentional Capacity
Attentional Alertness

Question 11

What is attentional selectivity?

Answer 11

Attention is restricted because it can only handle so much at once. On the other hand, athletes who appear to be able to pay attention to a variety of things when performing. This is because of their ability to transform from controlled to automated processing as they gain experience.

Question 12

What are common mistakes regarding attentional selectivity?

Answer 12

Failure to focus all of one’s attention the task essential or significant parts

Irrelevant information distracting you from relevant information

Inability to split attention among all relevant cues on all relevant cues that must be evaluated simultaneously. It is too broad and you can’t adjust from one place to the other

Question 13

What is attentional alertness?

Answer 13

Connected to the idea that increases in emotional arousal reduces attentional field due to systematic reduction invite range cues the performer considers when performing a skill like visual cues

Question 14

What are the 2 dimensions of attentional focus?

Answer 14

Width (Wide or Narrow)
Direction (External or Internal)

Question 15

What is width of attentional focus?

Answer 15

A person with a broad attentional focus can observe many events simultaneously which is critical in sports as players must be aware and responsive to a constantly changing environment

When you respond to only 2 cues such as when a golfer lines up to putt, you have narrow attention.

Question 16

What is direction of attentional focus?

Answer 16

External- directs attention outward to an item, such as a baseball or hockey puck or an opponent’s actions such as tennis doubles

Internal- Internal of thoughts and feelings. When a coach analyzes players without physically acting, a high jump starts the run-up for example

Question 17

What are internal distractors?

Answer 17

Thoughts, worries, or concerns

Attending to past events
Attending to future events
Choking under pressure
Inadequate motivation

Question 18

What are external distractors?

Answer 18

Visual distractors- Spectators can be visual distractions and can lead to pushing too hard

Auditory distractors- Crowd noise and aircraft flying over

Question 19

What is the role of self-talk in concentration?

Answer 19

Self-talk acts as a mediator between an event and a response. Self-talk plays a role in reactions to circumstances and these reactions influence behavior in the future and feelings

EX: Setback in rehabbing a knee injury

I’ll never get back to the starting lineup-anger, frustration, hopeless

This type of injury just takes time to heal, so I need to continue to work hard-optimism, motivation and effort.

Question 20

Types of Self-Talk for Enhancing Concentration

Answer 20

Positive (Motivational)
Instructional
Negative self-talk

Question 21

What is positive self-talk?

Answer 21

Focuses on boosting energy, effort, and a positive attitude, but it lacks precise task-related cues (I can do it.)

Question 22

What is instructional self-talk?

Answer 22

Assists in individual focusing on technical or task-related components of the performance to enhance execution (Keep eyes on the ball)

Question 23

What is negative self-talk?

Answer 23

Critical and self-demanding it hampers a person’s ability to achieve his or her goals and it is unproductive and anxiety-inducing.

Ex: Terrible shot- does not improve performance or promote pleasant sentiments

Question 24

What are some techniques to improve self-talk?

Answer 24

Thought stopping
Changing negative to positive self-talk
Concentration Enhancement
Use cue words
Non-judgmental thinking
Establish routines
Overlearn skills
Develop competition skills

Question 25

Process of thought stopping

Answer 25

Thought stopping is concentrating briefly on unwanted thoughts and then employing a cue or trigger to stop the thinking and clean the mind

When a negative thought arises simply say stop loudly and focus on the task related cue. Once you’ve accomplished this, try quietly whispering stop

Question 26

Process of non-judgemental thinking

Answer 26

Challenge in maintaining concentration is analyzing performance and categorizing it as excellent or terrible

The act of this triggering personal, ego driven, emotions detracts performance

Ex Football miss easy goals, frustration and discouragement

Question 27

Process of cue words

Answer 27

Evoke a specific response and basically, self-talk can be instructive (Shoulders back), motivational (Strong), and emotional (Hang in there)

Question 28

Process of Changing negative to positive self-talk

Answer 28

When negative thoughts arise, one strategy is to alter attentional focus to give encouragement and inspiration

Note all the sorts of self-talk that are harmful to your performance or cause unwanted behaviors. Goal ids to find which events cause these negative thoughts and why

Question 29

Process of overlearning skills

Answer 29

Aids in concentration in a competitive environment to perform at a high level and aids in autonomic performance of a skill.

Ex dribbling so you can focus on plays

Question 30

Process of concentration enhancement

Answer 30

Use simulation in practice

Environmental characteristics such as loud and hostile audience official’s presence and the opponents’ behavior distinguish the competitive atmosphere from the practice setting

Question 31

Process of establishing routine

Answer 31

Focuses attention and beneficial in mental prep for an upcoming competition

During breaks from the action, the mind begins to wander and is a good time for routine

Ex tennis player sits down, takes a breath, and imagines what to do in the next game. Then, before going back out, she uses 2-3 cue words to grab attention

Question 32

Process of developing competition plans

Answer 32

Assist athletes in what they would do in certain situations

Employ a what-if strategy to build strategy for several scenarios that may be unlikely but likely possible