MENTAL SKILLS – CONCENTRATION

Question 1

define concentration

Answer 1

Concentration is the ability to focus on task at hand whilst ignoring irrelevant cues or distractions.

Question 2

concentration has 4 main factors

Answer 2

1. Selective
2. Shiftable
3. Maintain
4. Situational

Question 3

define what Selective Attention

Answer 3

Focus on important cues and ignore distractions which will affect your performance e.g. footballer kicking at goal must focus only on relevant cues.

Question 4

define what Shiftable Attention

Answer 4

Athletes are constantly required to shift their concentration from broad to narrow throughout a game or activity

Question 5

define what Maintaining Attention

Answer 5

Being able to concentrate for the duration of the event – one error can cost the match – dropped catch, missed putt.

Question 6

define Situation Awareness

Answer 6

The ability of the performer to consider the game situation, positioning of team mates and opposition and then make appropriate decision on course of action

Question 7

what is Nideffer’s Model of Attention

Answer 7

determined that different sports have different attentional requirements and viewed attentional focus along two dimensions;

Question 8

list 2 components with Nideffer’s Model of Attention

Answer 8

1. Direction: Focus on whether cues are internal or external to the performer
2. Width: Focus on whether cues are broad – many cues available at once – or narrow where there are limited relevant cues to attend to.

Question 9

Broad – External refers to what type of cues?

Answer 9

Attention paid to a large number of cues in the external environment.

Required for open skilled team sports.

Question 10

Narrow – External refers to what?

Answer 10

Focused targeting which is the ability to block out distractions and focus on specific cues.

Required for target sports

Question 11

Broad – Internal refers to what?

Answer 11

Attention paid to internal thoughts and images.

Analysis, problem solving, visualising, determining strategies.

Question 12

Narrow – Internal refers to what?

Answer 12

Focus on a specific image, thought or coaching point with few other cues.

A golfer might focus on getting his putt past the hole.

Question 13

Used to rapidly assess a situation e.g. player running with the ball looks downfield for options

refers to what component in Model of Attention

Answer 13

Broad – External

Question 14

Used to focus on one or two external cues e.g. the ball or target

refers to what component in Model of Attention

Answer 14

Narrow – External

Question 15

Used to analyse and plan e.g. develop specific game plan or strategy

refers to what component in Model of Attention

Answer 15

Broad – Internal

Question 16

Used to mentally rehearse an upcoming performance e.g. mentally rehearsing a gymnastics routine.

refers to what component in Model of Attention

Answer 16

Narrow – Internal

Question 17

A goal shooter in netball uses *which component to focus on the ball and the movement of the other players on the court.

Answer 17

broad – external

Question 18

When she has the ball, her focus changes to *which component as she concentrates only on shooting the ball at the target.

Answer 18

narrow – external

Question 19

*which component is used for attention is used to visualise the ball going into the goal.

Answer 19

Narrow – internal

Question 20

Concentration problems can be draw into 2 conclusions

Answer 20

1. Internally caused
2. Externally caused

Question 21

Strategies to improve concentration and reach the ‘Zone’
list at least 4

Answer 21

• Practice with distractions present
• Use key words to focus on present demands
• Establish consistent performance routines
• Simulate game specific situations during training
• Break the contest into smaller blocks of time
• Confident of game plan/tactics
• Positive feedback
• Imagery

Question 22

define influence of age

Answer 22

Typically the younger the individual, the more likely they are to lose focus on a regular basis

• as a result older children learn faster than younger children because of longer attention and concentration span

Question 23

define influence of skill level

Answer 23

The ability of an individual to attend to relevant stimuli is influenced by their skill level

i.e less skilled poeple need more closed environment, & predictable type training

high skilled need more open environments, & allow them to develop the ability to filter out distractions and focus on relevant cues

Question 24

define influence of activity type

Answer 24

Activities that provide constantly changing stimuli are more likely to maintain the attention and focus of an individual