Sport Psychology

Question 1

What are mental skills? (5)

Answer 1

1. Motivation
2. Self-confidence
3. Concentration
4. Arousal regulation
5. Stress and tension management

Question 2

How do you improve mental skills? (5)

Answer 2

1. Imagery (recreation of the skill)
2. Relaxation
3. Performance Routines
4. Self – Talk
5. Goal Setting

Question 4

What is intrinsic motivation? Give 3 examples

Answer 4

Internal motivations that result from the process of participation in sport. Examples;

1. Playing for enjoyment
2. Social affiliation
3. Self – challenge

Question 5

What is extrinsic motivation? Give 3 examples

Answer 5

External motivations that result from participation in sport. Examples;

1. Money
2. Winning
3. Fame and awards

Question 6

Describe 3 factors affecting intrinsic motivation

Answer 6

1. AGE:
   a) Young – motivated by approval from parents/coaches
   b) Mature – motivated by enjoyment, improvement, winning
   c) Old – motivated by socializing, fitness
2. SKILL LEVEL:
   a) Beginner – basic skill level, require external motivation to remain engaged
   b) Intermediate – driven by a desire to improve further and reach elite skill level c) Skilled – predominantly intrinsic still (some extrinsic – money, prizes)
3. TYPE OF ACTIVITY:
   a) Impact of how interesting/challenging the task is for the performer. (too easy vs. too difficult)

Question 7

Describe the 3 types of concentration.

Answer 7

Selective concentration - focus on certain cues and ignoring irrelevant
ones
Shiftable concentration – the ability to shift from broad focus to narrow focus
Divisible concentration – the ability to focus on more than one skill at a time

Question 8

List 4 internal distractions.

Answer 8

1. Thinking about past and future events
2. Focus on irrelevant cues
3. Over-analysis of technique
4. Game pressure

Question 9

List 3 external distractions.

Answer 9

1. Crowd distractors
2. Verbal distractors – sledging
3. Visual distractors - goal keeper jumping from side to side

Question 10

What does it mean to be arousal?

Answer 10

Arousal or activation is the degree of alertness present in a performer about to perform a skilled task. When athletes perform at their optimal arousal level, they are able to concentrate specifically on the demands of the task (“in the zone”)

Question 11

What are the characteristics of an athlete being under arousal?

Answer 11

1. low motivation

2. easily distracted

Question 12

What relationship does ‘inverted U hypothesis’ explain?

Answer 12

Shows the relationship between the performance of the athlete and the factors affecting optimal arousal (nature of the task, skill of the performer)

Question 13

What are the characteristics of an athlete being over arousal?

Answer 13

1. nervousness / butterflies
2. elevated heart rate
3. reduced ability to concentrate

Question 14

What is the difference between anxiety and arsoual?

Answer 14

• Anxiety is associated with negative feelings
• Arousal is associated with your physical and psychological state and it can be positive, if arousal is negative is can have bad traits (lead to anxiety)

Question 15

What happens to performance when self-confidence is too low?

Answer 15

If self-confidence by passes optimal status, performance will decrease

Question 16

What is self-efficacy?

Answer 16

The change in an individual’s self-confidence as a result of a given situation. (Netball example - GK playing GS for a quarter)

Question 17

Explain why over-confidence could negatively impact performance.

Answer 17

As confidence increases it reaches optimal confidence level which is at the peak of performance; equilibrium. However, as confidence continues to increase, performance will rapidly decrease. (cooky)

Question 18

Explain the factors affecting self-confidence (3).

Answer 18

1. Performance accomplishment - to what extent the performer has had success is similar circumstances in the past
2. Physiologic state - injury; fatigue; arousal
3. Emotional state - stress; anxiety; mood