Psychological skills training.

Question 1

List Models of delivery for psychological skills training.

Answer 1

Sport Psychology Service delivery: Sport psych service delivery heuristic and cognitive-behavioural consultation model.

Nurturing athletic excellence: Individualised zone of optimal functioning and resonance performance model.

Counselling: life development intervention.

Interdisciplinary: Periodization of mental training. Educational Model.

Question 2

Who is PST effective for?

Answer 2

Athletes
Coaches
38 out of 45 studies found positive performance effects. following PST.

Question 3

Describe a sport Psychology service delivery approach.

Answer 3

Focuses on common features in Sport consultants ‘tool box’ as opposed to performance enhancement e.g. professional philosophy.

Question 4

Describe cognitive behavioural consultation model (under sport psych service delivery.)

Answer 4

Involves 8 steps including consultation orientation, goal identification etc.

Question 5

Describe Nurturing athletic excellence model of PST.

Answer 5

Individual zones of optimal functioning. - Takes an idiographic approach, focuses on positive and negative emotions and effects on performance.

Question 6

Describe Resonance performance model (Under Nurturing athletic excellence.)

Answer 6

This model attempts to combine performance enhance goals with ones of personal balance and fulfilment. Holistic tool

Question 7

Describe a counseling intervention as part of PST.

Answer 7

Life development intervention. This is a psycho-educational developmental approach to sport psychology that emphasises continuous growth and change.

Question 8

Describe two forms of interdisciplinary models of delivery in PST.

Answer 8

Periodization of mental training - parallels periodised physical training in using the same principle in manipulation of training e.g. start easy - progress.

Educational Model (Weiss, 1995) - combines performance enhancement and developmental needs and positive sport experiences.

Question 9

Who benefits from PST?

Answer 9

Highly skilled athletes.
Young athletes. (pairing of PST and life skills)
Special needs populations.
Physically challenged.

Question 10

Why should we start teaching mental skills at a young age?

Answer 10

May be easier to teach good mental skills right off the bat, instead of fixing poor mental skills.

Question 11

Who should conduct PST?

Answer 11

Sport Psych consultation
AASP certified.
Advantage of advanced training.
Athletes may be more likely to be honest.

Coach.

Question 12

What do good sport psych consultants do?

Answer 12

Recognize limits of competency. Confidentiality, recognise values and biases, consider cultural differences.

Question 13

Why should the coach conduct PST?

Answer 13

Can integrate some mental skills e.g. goal setting, development, awareness practices. (Good buy in from both sides)

Question 14

When is the most effective time to implement a PST program?

Answer 14

Most - off-season, preseason, when lack of pressure to win, perform.
(First through special training sessions (15-30 mins), integrate into physical training ASAP.

Least- Mid-season. (amounts to quick-fix)

Question 15

How much should athletes be thinking about working on mental training?

Answer 15

3 to 5 days a week at beginning.

Should continue to be a consistent practice throughout sporting life (foundational training 3-6 months)

Question 16

What is one of the first things to implement during PST?

Answer 16

Self-regulation.

Question 17

Describe Self-Regulation.

Answer 17

Must be able to regulate and control ones behaviour to have successful mental skills training.

Question 18

List the steps of self-regulation

Answer 18

Problem identification - open to criticism and honest about where at.

Commitment to change - develop plans.

Execution - stick to plans.

Manage the environment - set self up for success.

Generalization - self-regulation extends to other aspects of life.

Question 19

It is important to initially discuss what with athletes?

Answer 19

Do’s and don’ts

Question 20

What are the ‘Do’s in PST?

Answer 20

Spell out what sport psych is (educate others)
- interested in performance enhancement? Life skill development? Not just for fixing problems, about developing strengths as well

-Clarify approach - Not mental health (work within your boundaries). Educational vs. Clinical.

Discuss philosophy.

Question 21

What is involved in the initial assessment of Psychological strengths/Weaknesses?

Answer 21

Oral interview: Ask athletes to summarise their involvement in sport, describe biggest psychological strength and weaknesses, relationship with coach.

Written psych assessment.

Behavioural observations.

Give feedback.

Question 22

List types of written psychological assessments that may be used?

Answer 22

Sport competition anxiety Test.

Test of attentional and interpersonal style.

Trait-State Sport confidence.

Question 23

What are components to think about when thinking about what to include in PST?

Answer 23

Understand the demands of the particular sport.

• Explosive vs. endurance.
• Individual vs. team.

Know logistical parameters (time, weeks, athlete interested?)

Start from bottom up (Vealey, 2007).

Question 24

Describe Vealey’s mental skills for athletes.

Answer 24

Foundation skills
Performance skills
Personal development skills
Team skills.

Question 25

List foundational skills..

Answer 25

Achievement drive:
Self-awareness
Productive thinking
Self-confidence e.g. self-talk, are you in a good place?

Question 26

List performance skills.

Answer 26

Perceptual-cognitive skill.
Attentional focus e.g. imagery or goal setting.
Energy management

Question 27

List Personal development skills.

Answer 27

Identity achievement

Interpersonal competence - being able to work with others especially in stressful situations you encounter in sport.

Question 28

List team skills.

Answer 28

Leadership
Communication
Cohesion
Team Confidence.

Question 29

Why evaluate program effectiveness?

Answer 29

Provide consultant with information to gauge which components work or need to be modified.

Allow for consumer feedback.

Only wat to objectively judge whether program achieved its goals.

Needs to be a continuous process.

Question 30

List practical pointers for psychological skills training programs.

Answer 30

Provide what, why, when and how.

Stress personal responsibility.

Be flexible and individualised.

Use goal setting and journals.

Pre-competition, competition plans.

Stress real world application.

Question 31

List practical pointers for psychological skills training programs.

Answer 31

Practice it before you teach it.

Teach by example

Observe whenever possible

Emphasize strengths as competition nears.

Monitor your behaviour.

Question 32

Describe some ethical considerations of sport psych consultants

Answer 32

Conflicts of confidentiality - a lot of convo is done in gyms, field side etc. not always in private room. Pay attention to context.

Limits to confidentiality e.g. self-harm.

Conflicts of personal values and professional ethics.

Conflicts with dual relationships - e.g. son on same team.

Conflicts with self advertising.