Sports Psychology

Question 1

“The Zone”

Answer 1

• Ideal performance state in which athlete is totally focused, mentally and physically.

Question 2

Motivation:

Answer 2

• The direction and intensity of one’s effort
• Two types:
  
  • Intrinsic:
    
    • Personal motivation that is a result of characteristics etc.
  • Extrinsic:
    
    • External motivation such as rewards and compliments

Question 3

Self-confidence:

Answer 3

• An individual’s belief that they will be successful

- A performer has to be at optimum confidence level to achieve a high level of performance. Inverted “U”

Question 4

Stress Management Strategies:

Answer 4

• Progressive muscle relaxation
• Mental practice and imagery in relaxation
• Meditation
• Biofeedback
• Behaviour modification

Question 5

Progressive muscle relaxation:

Answer 5

• Tensing and relaxing muscles to provide a contrast between the two.
• Muscles tensed for 4-8 seconds, then released.

Question 6

Mental practice and imagery:

Answer 6

• Picturing an activity to reduce stress

- Also to improve performance as when doing the activity they just replicate what they pictured.

Question 7

Meditation:

Answer 7

• Relaxation of mind and body

- Staying still and focusing on one thing

Question 8

Biofeedback:

Answer 8

• Involves electric technology

- Measure an athlete’s body during actions to provide in depth feedback

Question 9

Behaviour modification and stress reduction:

Answer 9

• Change undesirable behaviours that induce stress in others

Question 10

Concentration:

Answer 10

• Focusing on relevant cues
• Maintaining focus over time
• Having awareness of the situation
  Can be split into 4 sections:
  
  • Broad internal:
    
    • Used to focus on thoughts and feelings
  • Broad external:
    
    • Used to focus outwards on an opponent’s actions
  • Narrow internal:
    
    • Used to focus thought and mentally rehearse upcoming action
  • Narrow external:
    
    • Used to focus on very few external cues

Question 11

Concentration and Skill Level:

Answer 11

• Skill/internal focus:
  
  • Concentrating on the movement of the hands
• Skill/external:
  
  • Concentrating on the movement of the bat
• Environment/external:
  
  • concentrating on auditory tones
• Environment/external:
  
  • concentrating on the ball leaving the bat

Question 12

Choking:

Answer 12

- The build up of pressure on an athlete that results in a failure of action.
Conditions leading to choking:
   - Important competition
   - Critical plays in a competition
   - Evaluation by coaches, peers and parents.
Attentional changes:
   - Internal focus
   - Narrow focus
   - Reduced flexibility
Performance impairment:
   - Timing and coordination breakdown
   - Muscle tightness and fatigue
   - Rushing
   - Inability to attend to task-relevant cues
Physical Changes:
   - Increased muscle tightness
   - Increased breathing rate
   - Racing heart rate