Introduction To Psychological Skills Training (PST) Flashcards
describe what it is meant by the key term - PST
PST is the systematic and consistent practice of psychological skills
state the purpose of PST
the purpose of PST is to enhance performance and enjoyment/satisfaction, and to develop ‘mental toughness’
what is the effectiveness of PST ?
PST can be used to enhance performance in both the short and long term
what do athletes feel primarily accounts for day-to-day fluctuations in performance ?
athletes feel that psychological factors primarily account for day-to-day fluctuations in performance
state what it is meant by the key term - ‘mental toughness’
mental toughness is an athletes ability to focus, rebound from failure, cope with pressure, and persist in the face of adversity
what do mentally tough/skilled athletes have a lot of ?
mentally tough/skilled athletes have a high sense of self-belief that they can control their own destiny
state the 4 components of mental toughness, as stated by Jones et al, 2002
- motivation
- concentration
- confidence
- dealing with pressure
when is mental toughness relevant ? (Jones et al, 2002)
mental toughness is relent before, during, and after competition
who came up with, and when did they come up with, the 4C model of mental toughness ?
Clough et al, 2002
as stated by Clough et al (2002), what are the 4C’s of mental toughness ?
- confidence
- challenge
- commitment
- control
with reference to the 4C model of mental toughness, presented by Clough et al (2002), define what it is meant by the key term - confidence
the ability to maintain self-belief in spite of setbacks, and not being intimidated by opponents (eg - imagine facing and coming through difficult times)
with reference to the 4C model of mental toughness, presented by Clough et al (2002), define what it is meant by the key term - challenge
being able to perceive potential threats as opportunities for personal growth as well as thriving in constantly changing environments (eg - increased familiarity with change)
with reference to the 4C model of mental toughness, presented by Clough et al (2002), define what it is meant by the key term - commitment
being deeply involved with pursuing goals and striving to achieve them despite difficulties (eg - goal setting and goal achievement)
with reference to the 4C model of mental toughness, presented by Clough et al (2002), define what it is meant by the key term - control
the ability to handle lots of things at once and remain influential rather than controlled (eg - train in the presence of distractions)
state 4 coaching guidelines to building mental toughness (8 possible)
- positive motivational environment
- intense competitive practices
- creating simulations of pressure
- setting clear goals
- providing instructual and supportive feedback
- rigorous physical preparation
- enhancing attentional control
- attributions for success and failure
state 3 facts about ‘too much of a good thing’, with reference to mental toughness
- what is perseverance and what is over-stretching
- mental toughness can lead to overtraining and injury
- mentally tough athletes may avoid seeking mental health counselling
state 3 reasons to why PST can be neglected
- coaches lack knowledge/comfort to teach them
- misunderstanding about mental skills (eg - you have it or you don’t)
- lack of time
how can sports psychologists help coaches with PST for their athletes ? (3 points)
- hands on concrete examples and exercises
- mental skills training resources
- involving coaches in mental skills programmes
state 4 PST myths
- only for athletes with ‘issues’ (all can benefit)
- for elites only (also developing)
- provides a quick fix (a LT factor)
- PST is not useful (evidence shows the opposite)
state 4 facts about PST in special population groups
- development of trust and rapport is crucial
- must work with their level of understanding
- solicit help from important others
- sessions/instructions should be fun and simple
state 5 things you must do (in order) when developing a PST programme
- discuss your approach
- assess the athletes current mental skills
- determine which skills must be included
- design a PST schedule
- evaluate and modify a programme
state what it is meant by the key term - self regulation
self regulation is the ability to work towards ones short and long term goals by effectively monitoring and managing ones thoughts, feelings and behaviours
state the 3 phases of PST
- education phase
- acquisition phase
- practice phase
explain the ‘education’ phase (phase 1) of PST (3 points)
- get the athlete to reflect on the importance of psychology
- psychological skills need to be taught and learnt
- increasing awareness of an athletes psychological skills
explain the ‘acquisition phase’ (phase 2) of PST (3 points)
- identification –> learning
- tailor programme for individual needs
- test strategies and techniques
state the 3 objectives of the ‘practice phase’ (phase 3) of PST
- automate skills through over-learning
- integrate psychological skills into the athletes current lifestyle
- move from practice to competition
what is the overall point of Vealey’s model of Mental Skills
multiple types of mental skills are key to success and well-being
state the 4 types of skills in Vealey’s model of Mental Skills
- foundation skills
- performance skills
- developmental skills
- team skills
with reference to Vealey’s model of Mental Skills, state what it is meant by the key term - foundation skills
foundation skills are intra-personal resources that are basic mental skills necessary for achieving success
with reference to Vealey’s model of Mental Skills, state what it is meant by the key term - performance skills
performance skills are mental abilities critical to the execution of skills during the execution of sports tasks
with reference to Vealey’s model of Mental Skills, state what it is meant by the key term - developmental skills
developmental skills are mental skills that represent significant maturational markers of personal development. clarity on self-concept, feelings of well-being, and a sense of relatedness to others
with reference to Vealey’s model of Mental Skills, state what it is meant by the key term - team skills
team skills are collective qualities of the team that are instrumental to an effective climate and overall team success
state 4 things you should try to use during the time frame of a PST intervention
- hold frequent, shorter meetings rather than longer, frequent ones
- hold informal as well as formal meetings
- whenever possible, begin PST before the session begins
- systematically schedule a PST as a part of daily practice
state 3 facts about evaluating a PST programme
- ethical obligation to evaluate effectiveness
- use interviews, written assessments, objective performance measures, and get feedback from other parties
- modify when suitable, progress > perfection
