Lecture 21: Intro to Mental Skills Training (MST) Flashcards
What does a Clinical Sport Psych Consultant focus on?
focus on assisting athlete’s with “severe” or “abnormal” mental health issues
e.g. anorexia/bulimia, depression/anxiety
What are the Two Types of Applied Sport Psychology?
Clinical and Educational
What does an Educational Sport Psych Consultant focus on?
focus on “teaching” practical psych skills to “normal” athletes (also coaches)
- ‘normal’ people performing in ‘abnormal’ situations, therefore requires “super”-normal skill (physical & psych)
What type of Sport Psych Consultant would teach MST?
Educational
What are the 3 objectives of Mental Skills Training (MST)?
- Help Athletes PERFORM to the best of their Ability
- Help Athletes ENJOY sport
- Develop Psych Skills as LIFE Skills
How does MST help athletes perform at their best?
performance enhancement (IPS & ‘Flow’)
How does MST help athletes enjoy sport?
increase performance, decrease stress, more fun
How does MST teach life skills?
- stress management, coping skills, commitment
- motivation, goal setting
- attention-concentration, focus
- personal growth & development
In competition what percentage of your performance is dependent upon psych factors?
Elite athletes say about 90%, other athletes say about 50%
How many hours a week do athletes spend on physical training (fitness, strength, skills)?
Many elite athletes report devoting a minimum of 20 hours a week (approx. 2-3 hours per day) to physical training
How could an athlete and a car racer be compared?
All the physical training is like building the car
MST is like putting the driver in the car
Why are mental skills neglected?
- Lack of knowledge of MST
- Psych skills are viewed as unchangeable
- Lack of time for MST
- Myths about MST
What are common myths about MST?
(i) MST is only for ‘problem’ athletes
(ii) MST is only for ‘elite’ athletes
(iii) MST is a ‘quick fix’
(iv) MST isn’t useful or ‘real science’
What are MST Skills?
qualities, abilities, attributes that need to be developed (e.g., attention-concentration)
- PRODUCT
What are MST Methods?
procedures or techniques used to teach, learn and develop the skills needed to perform well (e.g., imagery, self talk)
- PROCESS
What are the 3 categories of MST Skills?
- Foundation MST Skills
- Performance MST Skills
- Facilitative MST Skills
What are Foundation MST skills?
“The base/foundation of the house that everything else is built on”
e.g. Self-confidence, Motivation
What are Performance MST skills?
“The body of the house”
- Optimal Physical Arousal (activation)
- Optimal Mental Arousal (activation)
- Optimal Attention/Concentration
What are Facilitative MST Skills?
The roof - “Keep the lid/roof on”
e.g., Interpersonal Skills (e.g., communication skills); Team-Building – team cohesion
What are the 2 types of MST methods?
- Foundation Methods
- MST Methods
What are Foundation Methods?
Technical, Tactical, Physical skills e.g., Peak Performance Profile
What are MST Methods?
Mental Prep, Relaxation (centering), Imagery, Goal Setting…
What is a MST programme?
individually designed “combination” of methods selected to attain the individual’s skill needs.
- there is NO “set” MST programme!
What are the three things to consider when assessing mental skills needs?
- The sport
- The team (or squad)
- The individual
What parts of the sport need to be considered for mental skills needs?
- physical intensity, duration
- team vs individual
- basic physical/technical skills
What parts of the team/squad need to be considered for mental skills needs?
- team dynamics, cohesion
- coach, manager/admin
- leaders/captains
- coactive or interactive
What parts of the individual need to be considered for mental skills needs?
- Assess psych skill needs
- Observation, interviews/discussion
- Peak Performance Profile
